§ 22. Sir ROBERT HAMILTONasked the Minister of Agriculture whether the statement by his Department that seals are not destructive to fish to any important degree is based upon evidence tendered to the Department; and whether that evidence can be made available to the public?
Mr. GUINNESSCareful examination of the con tents of the stomachs of common seals from the Wash has failed to provide evidence that the animals examined had consumed any appreciable quantity of fish other than shell fish. The Local Sea Fisheries Committee have accordingly been informed that the evidence so far obtained tends to indicate that common seals are not destructive of fish to any important degree. It is proposed to carry out further investiga- 1323 tions on the same lines this year, the results of which, as well as those of previous investigations, will be made public.
§ Sir R. HAMILTONCan the right hon. Gentleman say whence the evidence was obtained that seals do not eat fish?
Mr. GUINNESSThe evidence was obtained in the Ministry's laboratory. I shall be very glad to send it to my hon. Friend.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYWill the right hon. Gentleman ask his officers to take evidence from the fishermen, who firmly believe that seals do eat fish?
Mr. GUINNESSI do not think that that evidence would add much to our knowledge. The question is whether, in the waters round this coast, the seals eat fish freely swimming in the sea, or shell-fish, and that has to be tested by laboratory experiments.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYDoes the right hon. Gentleman know on what the seals at the Zoological Gardens are fed?
Mr. GUINNESSI believe they are fed on dead fish, and, as the hon. and gallant Member will recognise, it is far easier to catch a dead fish in a tank than a freely swimming live fish in the sea.
§ Sir R. HAMILTONHave you seen them catch a salmon?