§ The Earl of Kimberleyasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they accept that the research utility of any fish counter is greatly reduced if it is so located on the river that the entire incoming run cannot be counted; and if so, whether they agreed that any future research counter must be placed below the lowest river or estuary netting station.
§ Lord Sanderson of BowdenI am advised that the research utility of a fish counter is not greatly reduced if it is above the netting stations on a river. Important considerations in the siting of a counter whose purpose is to provide a measure of the spawning escapement is that it should he far enough upstream to ensure that as many as possible of the fish counted are native to that river and low enough in the river system that there is ideally no spawning downstream of it and that any losses can be quantified.