§ On the Motion of the Marquess of CLANRICARDE, the House went into Committee.
§ LORD MONTEAGLEearnestly trusted that the Bill would be postponed, and that it would not be pressed forward at that late period of the Session. Many other 486 measures of greater importance had been postponed; and by bringing this Bill forward next Session, it could, if thought advisable, come into operation in July, 1849. He believed that the Bill would be unpopular among all parties in Ireland, and that it was opposed to the opinions of the Commissioners of Fisheries in that country.
The MARQUESS of CLANRICARDEdefended the Bill. He knew that his noble Friend the Lord Lieutenant, who took a deep interest in the subject of the Irish fisheries, was most anxious to see such a measure promptly carried into effect. There had been only one petition presented against the Bill, and that was signed by only two proprietors, Lord Stuart do Decies, and Sir Richard Musgrave, to whom a portion of the Blackwater fishery belonged; but since the Bill had been last before the House, he had received several communications from parties interested in the subject, all approving of the measure. The noble Marquess read some extracts from letters expressing approbation of the Bill, and concluded by stating that the object of the measure was to promote the interests of the poorer classes in Ireland.
§ After a few words from the Earl of GLENGALL in support of the measure,
§ Bill reported.
§ House adjourned.