§ Mr. BROOKESasked the President of the Board of Agriculture what representations his Department have made to the Admiralty against their railing up fishermen, in view of the increasing importance of the fish supply to the nation; and whether, seeing that the position of these men is analogous to that of the agricultural labourers, he will say how many have up to the present been withdrawn from what is now a staple industry?
§ Sir R. WINFREYThe Board have always been fully alive to the importance of the fish supply to the nation, and on all matters affecting the fish supply, including the question of the recruitment of fishermen for naval service, they have been in almost daily communication with the Admiralty since the commencement of the War, and their representations have been most sympathetically received. The Board have, however, recognised that the services of fishermen in the protection of sea-borne supplies of food may in fact represent a much greater contribution to the food supplies of the country than they could make by fishing. While, therefore, the Board have constantly recommended to the Admiralty the necessity for restricting the recruitment of fishermen within the narrowest limits compatible with naval efficiency, and the importance of employing fishermen only in such naval capacities as required those qualifications with which fishermen are especially endowed, they have not made any general representation against the recruitment of fishermen. The Admiralty are as anxious as the Board to maintain the fish supplies of the country at the highest level which the circumstances permit, and have given very valuable assistance in the protection of the fishing fleets. It is impossible to state precisely what number of fishermen have been called up for naval service. Many fishermen who were members of the Royal Naval Reserve were called up immediately on the mobilisation of Reserves at the out-break of war; others have been recruited 933W from time to time as the need for their service arose, under special arrangements made between the Board, the Scottish Fishery Board, and the Admiralty, designed to prevent any sudden and disastrous dislocation of the industry.