asked the Minister for Agriculture if his attention has been drawn to a statement made in Galway on 25th April, 1965 that the Government by refusing to give a trout stripping licence to the Oughterard Hatchery, on the grounds of inadequate facilities, was forcing the hatchery to close; that this would mean that the number of trout would fall; and that the Government would then have a reason for stepping in and taking over the fishing rights on the Corrib; and if in the circumstances he will state (a) what facilities were lacking at the hatchery and (b) whether the Government propose to take over the fishing rights of the Corrib.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Oughterard (Galway) Hatchery.
35.
I have seen the newspaper statement referred to. A trout stripping licence has been issued in respect of the Oughterard Hatchery for the 1964/65 season. Having regard to the high mortality rates in the ova produced by the hatchery in recent years due to a disease known as yolk sac disease which appears to be attributable to defects in the hatchery and equipment and to the relatively small contribution which the output of the hatchery can be expected to make to the stocks of fish in the Corrib system it is not proposed at present to issue any further licences pending a full investigation of the position.
Would the Minister indicate on what grounds he said there is disease in the Corrib? Is he aware that the Corrib has been built up by voluntary effort into one of the best fishing grounds in Europe? Now the Minister is going to make a mess of the lake, the same as he made a mess of the land.
Quite.
Hands off the Corrib: that is the warning the Minister got from the people there.