HC Deb 09 March 1896 vol 38 cc454-5
MR. J. DILLON (Mayo, E)

On behalf of the hon. Member for Galway, Mr. J. PINKERTON, I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty what steps have been taken to put a stop to illegal trawling in Galway Bay; and if the Admiralty have considered the advisability of having a gunboat permanently stationed there to prevent further breaches of the fishing laws?


The Admiralty do not undertake to stop illegal trawling, or prevent breaches of the fishing laws on the coast of the United Kingdom. It is not possible to station a gunboat permanently in Galway Bay, and the Admiralty do not recognise any obligation on them to do so for the purpose indicated in the question. The senior Officer at Queenstown has, however, been communicated with for the purpose of causing a vessel to visit Galway Bay at the earliest possible opportunity.