§ Mr. DAWESasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture (1) whether he will state by whom the Northumberland fisheries committees are appointed, and the names and addresses of the members of such committees. (2) whether he will state for what reason the fishermen on the Northumberland coast, when fishing for salmon and grilse in the sea, are forbidden to weight their nets; by whom such regulation is made and on what authority. (3) whether he will state by what authority a licence duty of £5. per boat is made on the salmon fishermen of the Northumberland coast in respect of fishing in the sea; by whom the licence duties are levied; to whom the proceeds are paid; and what services are rendered by the recipients in return for the payments?
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§ Sir E. STRACHEYIf the hon. Member is referring to Local Fisheries Committee the members are appointed by the Northumberland County Council. If he is referring to boards of salmon conservators, those bodies are similarly appointed, with the addition of certain members elected by those fishermen who have taken out licences to fish in the sea for salmon. Other members sit ex officio under certain qualifications as prescribed by the Salmon Fishery Acts. In the case of the Tyne Board, the county councils of Cumberland and Durham and the borough councils of Newcastle, Gateshead, and South Shields also appoint members. The numbers vary and the Board have no complete lists, but I will obtain the particulars should the hon. Member so desire. Each of these Fishery Boards is authorised by the Salmon Fishery Acts to issue licences to persons fishing for salmon, to receive the proceeds of such licences, and to apply them to the general protection and improvement of the salmon fisheries within their respective districts. With regard to the use of weighted nets for salmon, their prohibition would appear to be the result of the general enactments of the Salmon Fishery Acts. In addition to their power of enforcing these statutes, Salmon Fishery Boards have power to make by-laws for regulating the use of instruments for taking salmon.