§ Mr. GILHOOLYasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that the fishing nets of the boat "Pride of the Sea" were damaged and destroyed off Cape Clear in August, 1908, by the German cruiser "Hertha," and that the owner of the nets, Mr. John Cottrell, of Baltimore, county Cork, was refused compensation, though the commander of the "Hertha" admitted having destroyed some nets and damaged others; and will he take steps to secure compensation for Mr. Cottrell?
§ Sir E. GREYThe case came before my notice in March, 1909. From the information at my disposal it appears that the commander of the "Hertha" did not admit that his ship caused the damage. Moreover, he urged—and this was confirmed after investigation—that the "Pride of the Sea" did not comply accurately with the regulations, inasmuch as the line of her lights did not properly indicate the direction of her fishing gear. After consultation with the Admiralty and the De- 1381W partment of Agriculture and Technical Instruction for Ireland, it was deemed inadvisable to prefer a claim against the German Government, which would be resisted on this score, and could not be pressed on account of it.