HC Deb 20 May 1935 vol 302 cc4-5
12. Captain CUNNINGHAM-REID

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware that the Interdepartmental Committee on Artificial Propagation of Fish recommended in 1932 a Government grant of £3,250 for a scheme of experiments, which grant was not made owing to national economy; and whether, in view of the importance to fisheries throughout the country of research of this nature, he will now reconsider the advisability of making this grant?

The MINISTER of AGRICULTURE (Mr. Elliot)

The Interdepartmental Committee to which my hon. and gallant Friend refers recommended experiments estimated by them to involve an outlay of £3,210 of capital expenditure and an annual sum of £1,150 for 10 years, making a total expenditure of £11,500. They also recommended some experiments in the rearing of parr, at a cost of £3,010. While I am afraid I can see no immediate prospect of Government funds being available to enable these experiments to be put in hand, I should like to take this opportunity of expressing my appreciation of the work of the committee, and particularly of the unofficial members who gave so much of their time to the investigation of this question. I fully recognise the importance of the work pro posed by the committee, and I assure my hon. and gallant Friend that the possibility of putting the scheme into effect will be kept under review.

13. Captain CUNNINGHAM-REID

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether the fishery research station at Alresford has undertaken any research to determine whether spring salmon breed spring fish and autumn salmon autumn fish and if so, with what result?

Mr. ELLIOT

The Alresford station is concerned mainly with freshwater bio logical questions bearing on the subject of pollution, and no research of the nature indicated by my hon. and gallant Friend has been carried out there.

Captain CUNNINGHAM-REID

Does not this problem of fishery management require urgent attention?

Mr. ELLIOT

Yes, Sir, but I think this is not the most suitable occasion to carry out some of the experiments which the hon. and gallant Member has in mind.

Sir ARTHUR MICHAEL SAMUEL

Cannot some of this information be obtained from the Fraser and Columbia River fisheries?

Mr. ELLIOT

I cannot answer that question without notice.