§ Mr. MILDMAYasked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the admission of the Board of the prevalence of the practice of trawling without lights in Start Bay, South Devon, and of the inability of the Devon Sea Fisheries Committee, by bringing the offenders to justice, to put an end to such practice, the Board will consider the advisability of themselves taking steps to put an end to this practice so dangerous to other shipping?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLI am informed that 39 prosecutions have been instituted by the Devon Sea Fisheries Committee since October, 1900, for illegal trawling, and many of the vessels concerned were showing no lights. In such cases the Board do not intervene, as the failure to exhibit lights is really only a part of the primary offence of illegal trawling. I have, however, recently informed the Devon Sea Fisheries Committee that the Board are ready to institute proceedings under the Merchant Shipping Acts for non-exhibition of lights in any case other than those re-ferred to above upon receipt of the necessary evidence.