350 DEEP-SEA FISHING. 



Under these circumstances it is hardly surprising 

 that the majority of the west population, never accus- 

 tomed to regard fishing as more than an occasional 

 occupation, should not devote themselves earnestly to 

 the pursuit, or that the tide of emigration should 

 annually carry off so many of those whose relatives 

 and friends have gone before them, and are generally 

 doing well in another country. 



There is no reason to believe that, taking one year 

 with another, fish of various excellent kinds are not as 

 abundant around the coast of Ireland now as they ever 

 were ; or indeed that a less total quantity of fish is 

 caught than formerly ; for it must be remembered that 

 although the diminution of boats and men has been 

 very great, the decrease has been mainly in those 

 districts where the majority of the fishermen had little 

 claim to that title, and who, when other means of 

 support in any way failed them, became unable to keep 

 their boats and fishing gear in such a state as to be of 

 any real service ; while in more favoured districts where 

 fishing could be and has been the chief occupation, the 

 use of improved boats and better gear generally has 

 resulted in a greatly increased supply of fish to the 

 market. 



The west coast, except at a few places, can never, we 

 believe, become of any importance for its fisheries ; and 

 we doubt the expediency of endeavouring to foster such 

 occupations among a population of whom a large pro- 

 portion have so little heart for that kind of work. We 

 have mentioned that one of the obstacles to profitable 

 fishing on parts of the west coast is the difficulty of 

 getting the fish to market ; it is not always that the fish 

 cannot be caught, but few purchasers are to be found 

 for them in the neighbourhood, and in many cases the 



