asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if he is aware of the severe hardship which will be placed on Atlantic drift net fishermen on the north west and west coasts of Ireland by curtailing the salmon drift net season from 6th May to 30th June; and if he will take steps to have the season altered from 10th June to 20th July.

44.

asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries what are the new gear and mesh regulations for drift net salmon fishing which it is proposed to introduce next year.

With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions No. 43 and No. 44 together.

The Deputy evidently has in mind a recommendation which was passed this month by the North East Atlantic Fisheries Commission for the regulation of salmon fishing on the high seas. This recommendation, if finally ratified, will apply to waters within the jurisdiction of the commission but it should be noted that salmon fishing within the exclusive fishery limits of the member states is excepted and so the recommendation will not alter either Irish close seasons or gear or mesh of nets used within such limits.

45.

asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if he will state the exact number of salmon caught in drift nets off the coasts of Donegal, Sligo and Mayo, excluding the Foyle estuary, during the 1969 salmon drift net season.

The number of salmon caught in drift nets, off the coasts referred to by the Deputy, in 1969 was 113,851.