FISHING STATIONS— IRELAND. 353 



the policy of tlic Goveriiiiient to lend money to indivi- 

 duals to help carry on their business — a policy that 

 would have a very wide apjolication — there is evi- 

 dence that advances in the manner proposed have 

 not previously been productive of unmixed good, 

 and that in some instances the money has been 

 applied to otlier purposes than those for which it was 

 granted.^ 



In discussing the question of the Irish sea fisheries 

 there appears to be a frequent confusion between the 

 idea of developing them as one of the food-producing 

 resources of the country- — making them, in fact, one 

 of the industries of the island, and that of treating 

 them as a means of helping the majority of the coast 

 population, the so-called fishermen — for, as has been 

 showm, the real ones are comparatively few — to gain a 

 subsistence. The various appeals for assistance are 

 made on the ground of the poverty of the fishermen, 

 but it appears from what the Inspectors say that more 

 than three-fourths of these men do not fish during as 

 much as a month in the year ; and this cannot be ex- 

 plained altogether by the want of proper appliances. 

 There are various other occupations which these people 

 are accustomed to, and which there is no reason to think 

 they would give up if they were fitted out with all the 

 fishing gear they could desire. Seaweed cutting, for 

 instance, is not likely to be neglected for the chance of 

 being able to make something by fishing. It would be 

 as reasonable to call the hardy sea-going Shetlanders 

 farmers because they have generally a small bit of 

 ground to cultivate, as to speak of this portion of the 

 Irish people as fishermen. The excellent Society for 



■' See Ajjpendix to Beport of Select Committee on the Sea Coast Fisheries 

 (Ireland) Bill, p. 264. 



2 A 



