HL Deb 30 March 1868 vol 191 cc465-6

Order of the Day for the Second Reading read.

THE DUKE OF RICHMOND

, in moving the second reading of this Bill, explained that it had been rendered necessary by the new Convention on the subject of the sea fisheries with the French Government. During the passage of the Bill through the House of Commons, some points of law had arisen as to the effect which the Bill would have on certain fisheries connected with Ireland, and he had thought it right that a case in reference to these points should be drawn up and submitted to the Law Officers of the Crown. In the mean-time he proposed to take the second reading of the Bill, on the understanding that the Committee would not be proceeded with until after Easter, when he would be in a position to state the effect of that legal Opinion.

Moved, "That the Bill be now read 2a."—(The Duke of Richmond.)

THE EARL OF CORK

said, that the Bill would to some extent "disestablish" certain oyster fisheries of Ireland, as they were beyond the three-mile limit provided for by the Bill, and were therefore left unprotected by the present measure.

THE DUKE OF RICHMOND

said, the noble Earl referred to the Arklow fisheries on the coast of Wexford, which had been under the control of the Irish Fishery Board. But the noble Earl had forgotten to state that oyster fisheries outside the three-mile limit were not within the jurisdiction of the Irish Fishery Board at all.

LORD STANLEY OF ALDERLEY

said, he objected to the Bill passing in its present shape, as its effect would be to offer inducements to the Channel fishermen to go to Ireland during the close time in the English Channel.

THE DUKE OF RICHMOND

said, that under the Convention of 1839, a close time had been agreed to and acted upon between this country and France as regarded the English Channel; but by the operation of this Bill that close time would be reduced by six weeks, so that the inducements to which the noble Lord referred would be proportionably diminished by the measure.

Motion agreed to: Bill read 2a accordingly.

House adjourned at a quarter past Seven o'clock, till To-morrow, half past Ten o'clock.