§ Mr. ROBERT HARCOURTI beg to ask the representative of the Admiralty a question, of which I have given private notice, namely: Whether British vessels are, to the knowledge of the Admiralty, at the present moment engaged in fishing outside territorial waters; whether it is proposed that His Majesty's ships should afford them protection; and whether he intends to issue any advice as to the future operations of fishermen on the high seas?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the ADMIRALTY (Dr. Macnamara)No special measures have been taken for protection of fishing fleets outside territorial waters, other than advising them, so far as practicable, of dangerous areas. The fishing fleets have therefore been advised to withdraw from the North Sea for the present. The Admiralty is in close touch with the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries on the subject.