§ Sir B. PETOasked the Minister of Agriculture what methods and what instruments were used to destroy the grey seals during the humane demonstration of destroying these animals on the coast of Cornwall?
§ Mr. ELLIOTI am informed that the seals were shot with service rifles of.303 calibre, and that the demonstrations were carried out by good marksmen operating under the supervision of the Cornwall Fishery Officer who reported that the death of the seals was generally instantaneous.
§ Sir B. PETOasked the Minister of Agriculture whether he will make further inquiries as to the number of grey seals killed on the north coast of Cornwall during the past summer in connection with the demonstration organised by the Cornwall Sea Fisheries Committee in order to ascertain whether the number is correctly reported as 71 or was actually 120?
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§ Mr. ELLIOTThe number 71 which I mentioned in my answer of 22nd November was taken from a report by the Cornwall fishery officer dated 10th September, 1934, as the number of seals, not necessarily grey seals, killed up to that date in the course of the committee's demonstration. The close season for grey seals begins on 1st September, and I did not anticipate that the committee would continue its operations during the close season. I now learn, in reply to inquiries addressed to the clerk of the committee, that up to date 177 seals have been killed, of which it will appear that not less than 106 must have been killed after the opening of the close season for grey seals. The committee are well aware of the provisions of the Grey Seals Protection Act, 1932, and, having regard to the difficulty of distinguishing between grey seals and common seals in the water, I am surprised that they should have allowed their demonstration to continue during this time. I am in communication with the committee on the subject. I had no reason to doubt that, as no suggestion of any kind had been made to the contrary by the committee, this demonstration was being carried out within the time permitted by law, and I much regret that I inadvertently misinformed my hon. Friend and my hon. Friend the Member for Camborne (Lieut.-Commander Agnew) in my previous answer. I am sending copies of this answer to other hon. Members who put questions arising out of my reply to my hon. Friend.