General Introduction. 1 1 



Tons. 



1866 ... .., .., ... 132,004 



1867 ... ... ... ... 122,523 



1868 ... ... ... ... 122,287 



1869 ... .., .. ... H3,782 



1870 ... ... ... ... H7,095 



1871 ... ... ... ... 116,463 



Our imports of fish from abroad have largely increased, 

 as will be seen by the following figures, giving the value : 



1856 .. ... ... ... 228,075 



1866 ... ... ... ... 631,552 



1876 ... ... 1,459,974 



Of the imports in 1876, 966,119 cwt. about one-third- 

 was fresh fish not of British taking. 



We also imported in 1876 train oil or blubber to the 

 value of 445,262, spermaceti or head matter valued at 

 290,359, and seal-skins value 219,540, making a total 

 of 2,415,135. This is exclusive of sardines, anchovies, 

 caviare, oysters and shell-fish, pearls, mother-of-pearl, tor- 

 toise-shell, coral, sponges, and other articles obtained from 

 the fisheries, which would swell up the aggregate to over 

 3,000,000 of products obtained from the sea. 



We exported in that year, of British produce : 



Salmon to the value of ... ... ... ^39,083 



Cod and ling ,, ... ... ... 44>3%3 



Herrings ,, ... ... 73 2 >737 



Pilchards ,, ... ... ... 19,222 



Unenumerated ,, ... ... ... 67,332 



Oysters ,, ... ... ... 50,047 



952, 8 4 



In the last quarter of a century the Irish fisheries have 

 declined by fully one-half in the number of boats and men 

 employed. In 1870 there were stated to be under 9,000 

 vessels and boats, and 38,000 men and boys. Owing to 

 the numerous indentations, the coast line of Ireland is 



