§ Mr. Wm. Rossasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will publish in the Official Report the number, average weight and value of salmon taken by commercial nets in the Foyle area and in the rest of Northern Ireland, respectively, in each of the last five years, values to be shown in cash and real terms; and what were the sums paid in licence fees for those years in cash and real terms, taking 1975 as 100.
§ Mr. Adam ButlerThe information is as follows:
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Table 1 Commercial salmon catches—Northern Ireland Foyle Area Fisheries Conservancy Boards (FCB) Year Number Average weight Kg Value Number Average weight Kg Value Cash terms Real terms Cash terms Real terms £ 1975 = 100 £ 1975 = 100 1976 19,465 3.55 246,145 124.1 12,796 3.42 155,906 114.0 1977 19,629 3.36 213,752 93.0 14,596 3.01 142,287 89.8 1978 23,955 3.39 286,424 115.1 20,712 3.22 220,942 128.7 1979 18,501 3.11 243,436 86.3 13,755 3.02 175,553 90.2 1980 24,611 2.96 229,392 68.9 15,310 3.19 153,836 67.0
Table 2 Income from Commercial Salmon Licences Year Value Value in real terms £ 1975 = 100 Foyle 1976 8,853 122.3 1977 8,869 105.7 1978 11,312 124.5 1979 10,870 105.5 1980 11,628 95.6 FCB 1976 4,260 103.9 1977 4,573 96.3 1978 5,444 105.8 1979 6,262 107.3 1980 7,314 106.3 Notes.
1. The retail price index was used to calculate the value of the income in real terms taking 1975 as 100.
2. For a number of reasons it is not possible to allocate the catch to specific areas of the Foyle and it has been the regular practice for statistical purposes both north and south of the border to divide the salmon catch for the Foyle area equally between Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic. The figures quoted above represent half the total catch of the Foyle area and for consistency half the income from licence fees.