London, Jan, 18. Asked in the House of Commons today regarding the dunger to local fishermen resulting from the practice of sinking unexploded mines by rifle fire, the Parliamentary and Financial Secretary to the Admiralty, Mr. Geoffrey Shakespeare, replied: "Special ships are being fitted out for the blowing up of floating mines, and these ships will work in areas where most of the floating mines are to be found. It is essential, however, that patrol craft should continue to sink floating mines by rifle fre as a mine on the surface is a menace to shipping," he added.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.