§ Mr. NEWTONasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the waters lying within a line drawn from Orfordness to the North Foreland are British waters and therefore exclusively reserved for fishing purposes for vessels flying the British flag; and, if not, whether he will consider the advisability in the interests of British fishermen of securing the recognition by foreign countries of this limit; and further, with the existing practice of what, if any, foreign countries would such a claim on behalf of the British Government conflict?
§ Sir E. GREYThe answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. The suggestion contained in the second part of the question is one primarily for the consideration of the Fishery Departments of His Majesty's Government, as well as of the Board of Trade and Admiralty. There has been nothing so far in the existing practice of any country to justify such a claim, though one or two countries have made claims of a somewhat similar nature.