asked the Minister for Agriculture whether he is aware that salmon drift net fishermen on the River Suir at Ferrybank, Waterford, are forbidden by an old by-law from fishing in the river from the bridge to Cheekpoint and that the board of conservators, Waterford (No. 3) fishing district, state that they have no power to alter the by-law; and if he will have the prohibition in question investigated by a public inquiry where the local fishermen will have an opportunity of making their case for the right to fish in this portion of river.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - County Waterford: Prohibition of Fishing.
I presume the question refers to by-law No. 103 made on 15th July, 1884. The procedure in regard to the amendment of a by-law is that before ordering the holding of a public inquiry in the matter the fishery authority would require to be furnished with a prima facie case in writing that the proposed amendment would be desirable in the interests of the fisheries concerned as a whole and not merely for the benefit of a particular group of fishermen.