asked the Minister for Fisheries whether one of the duties of Boards of Conservators is the protection and care of the brown trout fisheries, and, if so, if he will state what steps were taken in 1923 or 1924 by the Limerick Board to foster or protect the free brown trout lakes of Westmeath; whether, in view of the fact that the Limerick Board of Conservators received a grant of £1,203 in 1923, in addition to revenue derived from salmon licences, which amount is equivalent to almost fifty per cent. of the total revenue, he will take steps to see that the Westmeath lakes receive from the Limerick Board an equitable proportion of those public funds.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - WESTMEATH LAKE FISHERIES.
The duty of preserving brown trout, as well as all other freshwater fish, is entrusted to the Boards of Conservators of Fisheries.
No water-bailiffs were appointed by the Limerick Board of Conservators to look after the brown trout lakes of Westmeath during 1923 and 1924. The Board, it is understood, are unable to provide bailiffs for these lakes owing to their restricted funds. I am satisfied that the Limerick Board is expending its resources to the best advantage in concentrating at present upon the protection of the salmon fisheries, which are much more valuable to the State than brown trout.
I am, at the same time, anxious to see that the brown trout fisheries in our large lakes should receive attention, and my Department has given special assistance to the Westmeath lakes trout fishery during the past two years.