§ Sir G. STRICKLANDasked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware that a cormorant destroys two and a quarter tons of fish a year; that the destruction of cormorants is left to inadequate private enterprise, and that a small grant of £50 a year for the purpose has been refused; is he aware that their chief nesting site is in the south of England; and will he consider the advisability of providing for the destruction of cormorants?
Mr. GUINNESSI am aware that cormorants eat large quantities of fish, but. I hesitate to commit myself to an estimate of the bulk consumed annually per bird. I am informed that in one of their principal breeding places, private enterprise does valuable work in keeping down their number. I have no authority and no funds to provide for the destruction of fish-eating birds, but I have facilitated the payment of rewards by local Sea Fisheries Committees for their destruction.