asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will state what steps, if any, have been taken by him with a view to the removal or modification of the tariff on cured mackerel exported from the Free State to the United States, and if he has considered the advisability of giving a bounty to curers on such mackerel exported.

The matter referred to in the first part of this question has been receiving my careful consideration. I am not aware that the demand for the commodity in the United States is such that our producers could hope for a reasonable return, even if the tariff were modified. I cannot, however, hold out any hope of bounty to exporters of cured mackerel.