§ 12. Viscount CURZONasked the First Lord of the Admiralty what was the gross amount realised at Lowestoft Naval Base during the War from the sale of fish caught by Admiralty drifters; how the sum has been disposed of; what sums were similarly accumulated at other bases and how disposed of; and how many men of the naval services lost their lives directly through being employed in fishing in Admiralty drifters, as was the case with His Majesty's Drifter "Ocean Fisher"?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAAs this is a very long answer, I hope the hon. and gallant Member will allow me to circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Following is the answer:
§ The gross amount realised at Lowestoft Naval Base during the War from the sale of fish caught on trawlers and drifters on Admiralty Charter was £100,657 11s. 4d. After payment of expenses in connection with the fishing, e.g., agents' fees, cost of fishing gear, ice, dues, etc., the proceeds were divided into equal moieties, one of which was appropriated in aid of Navy Votes, in consideration of the fact that Navy Votes paid for the hire of the vessels, took all risks on them, and bore the expense of their maintenance, including the ordinary wages of the crews. The other moiety was put at the disposal of the Senior Naval Officer in the first place to be expended by him for the benefit of the service in the broadest sense. From 1st January, 1919, however, the expenditure from the Senior Naval Officer's fund was limited to £500 per annum, and when the base was closed the balance remaining was transferred to the Admiralty. The gross sums similarly realised at other naval bases amounted to £225,160 9s. 7d. The total sum so realised has been dealt with in a similar manner as the proceeds of fishing at Lowestoft.
§ The question of the final disposal of the balance in the hands of the Admiralty is still under consideration, but a sum of £10,000 has already been allocated for the benefit of the Naval Sports Control Board.
§ Eight men, belonging to the Royal Naval Reserve, lost their lives when His Majesty's Drifter "Ocean Fisher" was sunk. The "Ocean Fisher," when fishing, picked up a mine in her trawl, which exploded and destroyed the ship. Many private fishing vessels were lost in similar 413 circumstances during the War. I should explain to my hon. and gallant Friend that fishing was not carried out concurrently with mine-sweeping or mine-laying, but vessels of the Auxiliary Patrol, whose duty vas the protection of the private fishing fleets, were sometimes able to fish while on this duty. The fact that fishing was so carried out did not involve these vessels in greater risks than those incurred by the private fishing fleets or presumably other vessels engaged on purely naval work.
§ The men who were fishing for the bases were volunteers when not engaged on protection duties; they received weekly bonuses in addition to their ordinary pay. They were allowed to go out specially to fish when not engaged on naval work.
§ No separate record has been kept of any vessels sunk while fishing, and the number of men who lost their lives in these circumstances cannot, therefore, be stated.