§ Mr. G. HALLasked the Minister of Agriculture whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that on Tuesday of last week 580 tons of fish was sent from Fleetwood to the fish meal works, and on the same day 600 boxes of fish met a similar fate at Aberdeen; and what action he proposes to take to prevent a continuance of this wastage?
§ Sir E. CECILasked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been drawn to the recent wholesale destruction of numerous boxes of good fish at Fleetwood for the purpose of maintaining prices to the consumers; and whether he proposes to take any action in the matter?
§ Mr. BUXTONThe total quantity of fish landed at Fleetwood on Tuesday, the 20th May, was 353 tons 8 cwts. Of this, 19½ tons were sent to the local fish meal works, because there was no demand for it for the food markets. Some 70 tons of fish in all have been similarly dealt with at Fleetwood in the past fortnight. With regard to Aberdeen, I am informed that the facts are as stated. The fish in question were, however, mostly small 633W whiting and haddocks, and were sent to the meal works owing to the heavy supplies and a falling off in the demand from England. Occasional gluts of this character are inevitable. All fish is sold at the fishing ports in open auction, and 634W if there is a demand for it as food there is, in time of abundance, no difficulty in procuring it. I have no authority to take action, as is suggested in the last part of the question, even if such action were practicable.