§ Mr. MACMASTERasked the Secretary of State for War whether, in certain importations of oats from foreign countries intended for the feeding of our horses at the front, there were found quantities of fish-hooks; whether it was necessary to employ magnetic machinery to separate the fish-hooks from the oats; and whether any representations have been made to neutral nations that this practice had been resorted to?
§ Mr. FORSTERAs far as is known, no fish-hooks have been found in oats imported from foreign countries, but clippings from horseshoe nails have been found. It appears that no injuries have been caused by these steel clippings, and there is no reason to suppose that they have been mixed with the oats otherwise than by accident.