asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if he will consider a scheme for stocking the canals with brown trout.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Trout Stocking of Canals.
9.
The possibility of stocking the canals with brown trout has been investigated. It is considered that, owing to limitation in food supply and spawning potential a scheme for such stocking would not be warranted, particularly having regard to the excellent trout fishing already available throughout the country.
If it is not a proposition as far as brown trout is concerned, which I doubt very much because of the size of the trout caught in the canal, is it a proposition for coarse fishing?
Hear, hear.
That would be a separate question.
A different fish and a different question.
Surely the Minister recognises the value of this as a tourist attraction and recognises the extent to which canals in England are used for this purpose where the fish are not really able to live because of pollution?
Surely the Minister is aware that the Inland Fisheries Trust are at this moment examining the question of stocking canals with coarse fish and one of their difficulties is the prevalence of weeds which makes the catching of fish difficult? Steps should be taken to overcome that.
That is correct.
The Inland Fisheries Trust never ceases to function.
Quite so.