§ Mr. NEWTONasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture whether he is aware that for some years past, between the end of May and the end of August in each year, foreign-owned and foreign-manned steam vessels, to the number of ten or twelve, have been in the habit of trawling, greatly to the detriment of local fishermen, from the Sunk Light, Harwich, through East Swin and the Barrow Deep as far up as the Mouse Lightship; whether he is aware that a large portion of this area lies within the estuary of the River Thames; whether he is aware that these foreign vessels use roller and other trawls having a sweep, approximately, three times as large as ordinary trawls, and that these trawls, by reason of their peculiar and heavy construction, kill many small fish, destroy the spawn, and, by cutting up the ground and breaking down the heaps of ross which contain the worm, destroy the feed for shrimps and other fish, and thus do mischief to the local fishing industry; and whether, under these circumstances, he will take steps during the coming season to prevent the incursion of these foreign steam trawlers, and afford to the native fishermen in the above-mentioned waters the necessary protection for their industry?
§ Sir EDWARD STRACHEYAlmost all of the waters to which the hon. Member refers are outside the area within which this country possesses exclusive fishing rights, but the Board propose to communicate with the Board of Trade and the Admiralty with a view to arrange for the protection of that area by a fishery cruiser.