Die Jovis, 3^ Mar tit 1904. 



MEMBERS PRESENT: 



Marquess of Abercorn (Duke of 



Abercorn). 

 Earl of Onslow. 

 Earl of Yarborough. 



Lord Meldrum (Marquess of Hxjntly). 



Lord TWEEDMOUTH. 

 Lord NORTHBOURNE. 



Lord Heneage, 



The Right Hon. The EARL OF ONSLOW, g.o.m.g., in the Chair. 



Sir THOMAS HENRY ELLIOTT, k.o.b., is called in ; and Examined as follows :- 



Chairman. 



1. You are, I think, Secretary to the Board of 

 Agriculture and Fisheries ? — I am. 



2. For a great many years past there has been 

 ii desire on the part of those interested in sea 

 fisheries to have some protection afforded to 

 undersized flat fish, has there not ? — -Yes, that 

 desire has been expressed to us in various repre- 

 sentations. 



3. All round the coast of England there are 

 Sea Fisheries Committees who have made 

 representations to the Board of Trade and the 

 Board of Agriculture, I believe ? — That is so. 



4. And every year there is a statutory Con- 

 ference of those Fishery Committees which has 

 been held at the Board of Trade, is there not ? — 

 Yes, that is so. 



6. And now at the Board of Agriculture ? — 

 Yes. 



6. How are those Committees constituted ? — 

 The local Fishery Committees are Committees 

 of counties or boroughs, either singly or in 

 combination, with the addition of members 

 representing the fishery interests of the district. 

 The number of fishery members must not be 

 less than the number of members of the county 

 or borough councils. 



7. And have they made representations when 

 meeting in conference in favour of a size limit for 

 fish ? — -Yes, repeatedly. The first conference of 

 these Committees at which the subject was con- 

 sidered was held, I think, in the year 1892, and 

 since 1892 the conference has called attention to 

 the necessity of legislation on this subject, placing 

 the matter as the first item on their agenda 

 paper on every occasion. 



8. Every year since 1892 ? — Every year since 

 1892. 



9. And has the desire of the delegates 

 attending those conferences been practically 

 unanimous ? — Practically unanimous — on many 

 occasions absolutely unanimous. 



(O'iO.) 129. 



CAairmaft— continued. 



10. Then in addition to the Sea Fisheries 

 Committees there is, is there not, an association 

 called the National Sea Fisheries Protection 

 Association which is more particularly charged 

 with looking after the fishing interests outside 

 the territorial limits and in the North Sea 

 generally ? — That is so. 



11. Can you say how that association is 

 constituted / — It is composed of various local 

 societies, or societies having special trade interests. 

 I think at the present momejit there are 34 

 societies affiliated with the National Association. 



12. And they held a conference in September, 

 1902, did they not, at which a resolution was 

 passed ? — They held a conference in September, 

 1902, at which they unanimously adopted a re- 

 solution, which possibly I may read to your 

 Lordships. 



13. If you please. — " That this conference 

 regards as conclusive the evidence of a wide- 

 spread diminution of the supply of food fishes in 

 the North Sea and adjacent grounds, and is of 

 opinion that the only practicable remedy is the 

 prevention of landing and sale of immature and 

 undersized fish." 



14. That was before the fisheries were brought 

 under the Board of Agriculture ? — Yes. 



15. The Act bringing the fisheries under the 

 Board of Agriculture came into operation, did it 

 not, on the 1st of October last ? — That is so. 



16. And there was a deputation, was there 

 not, which waited upon mo on the 22nd of that 

 month, within about three weeks of the Board 

 of Agriculture taking over the fishery duties, to 

 urge apon me the necessity of bringing in a Bill 

 to deal with undersized fiat fish ? — Yes. 



17. Was that a representative deputation ? — 

 A representative deputation, composed of men 

 representing fishery interests on various parts of 

 the coast. 



A -2 1 8. Will 



