§ 78. Mr. CLANCYasked the Secretary to the Admiralty whether his attention has been directed to the danger threatened to the herring fishery industry at Howth, county Dublin, by the want of shipping facilities for the transport across the Channel to England; whether he is aware 1330 that already, from this cause, the price of the fish at Howth has dropped 50 per cent. or more, and that fish threatens to become unsaleable if the want of transport facilities continues; whether a large number of English as well as Irish boats are affected; and whether, in view of the fact that cheap food for the masses of the people, especially at the present moment, is a prime imperial necessity and that much of the fish consumed in England comes from Ireland, immediate steps will be taken to liberate sufficient tonnage to avert, the threatened destruction of the industry at Howth?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAApart from information furnished privately by my hon. Friend to the Admiralty, the answer to the first three parts of the question is in the negative, and, as regards the fourth inquiry, it is not possible to release vessels at present on naval and military service for this purpose.