§ Mr. FETHERSTONHAUGHasked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland) what is the amount of the subsidy paid by the Department in respect of the hatchery at Belleek, county Fermanagh; does the Department exercise any supervision over the hatchery; and have its operations resulted in any increase of trout or salmon in Lough Erne?
§ Mr. T. W. RUSSELLThe subsidy paid to the proprietors of the Belleek Salmon Hatchery is at the rate of 1s. 6d. per 1,000 salmon fry turned out at places approved of by the Department. The hatchery is inspected by a representative of the Department at least once in each hatching season, and has always been conducted to their satisfaction. The operations of the hatchery are not known to have resulted in any increase of salmon in Lough Erne. The public fishery in the sea off the mouth of the Erne has improved. The Department are not aware that trout are dealt with at the hatchery.