§ 13. Mr. NOEL BUXTONasked the President of the Board of Agriculture what steps have been already taken to increase the available supply of freshwater fish and eels; and whether a further Report of the Committee on Freshwater Fish is shortly expected?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the BOARD of AGRICULTURE (Sir Richard Winfrey)The Freshwater Fish Committee has issued two Reports, the first in August, 1917, the second, on Eel Fisheries, in December last. The first Report contains certain suggestions for facilitating the capture of freshwater fish, such as the curtailment of close seasons and the removal of certain restrictions, all of which have been put into effect. In 8 addition, boards of conservators and other bodies have been urged, usually with success, themselves to undertake or to facilitate increased captures of coarse fish. Practical steps are being taken to give effect to recommendations of the Committee for the development of the stock of eels and the capture of a greater proportion of the available stock. The German-owned station at Epney on the River Severn for the capture of elvers was taken over and worked, and about 1,100,000 elvers were distributed from that source to suitable waters elsewhere. Active preparation is being made for the capture of migrating eels during the autumn run, in suitable waters, both inland and on the coast. Practical advice and assistance have been given to numerous persons desirous of making arrangements for the capture of eels in private waters. A leaflet on the capture of eels has been published, 2,000 copies of this leaflet have already been disposed of, and the demand still continues. Measures are now under discussion for the control and development of waste waters in various localities which are suitable for eel culture. A further Report will be issued by the Committee in due course, but it is not yet possible to suggest an approximate date for its publication.