354 DEEP-SEA FISHING. 



bettering the Condition of the Poor appears to ns to be 

 the source from which such men should seek assistance, 

 and not from any fund established under the Fisheries 

 Inspectors for the purpose of helping those who, by 

 making fishing their regular occupation, have some 

 claim to the title of fishermen. For we venture to 

 doubt whether the class of which we have been speak- 

 ing, ignorant as they are of a great deal that is familiar 

 to the professed fishermen with respect either to the best 

 kinds of gear, or to making the most of their surphis 

 fish b}^ curing, are ever likely to rise much above the 

 level at which they now stand. It is not to such men 

 we must look for the development of the Irish sea fishe- 

 ries ; the}^ must first learn to give up their prejudices 

 against modes of fishing to which .they are unaccus- 

 tomed, and take heartily to the work which, in very 

 many cases, is now only a secondary consideration with 

 them. 



It has been often asked, and the inquiry will be 

 repeated, whether the patriotic feeling of the Irish 

 people generally should not induce them to show some 

 disposition to take j)art in helping their needy country- 

 men ? The Inspectors, however, speak strongly of the 

 unwillingness of the landlords and of the opulent por- 

 tion of the mercantile community to afford any assist- 

 ance ; but add — " Amidst all this indifference it is 

 gratifying to us to be enabled to record an instance — 

 unfortunately the only one — of a generous desire to 

 assist the struggling fishermen. Mr. Benjamin Whit- 

 worth, of Manchester, late member for Drogheda, 

 offered this year to give 2000^. to this department for 

 their benefit, provided that a further sum of 8000/. 

 would be contributed for the purpose. We much ap- 

 prehend that a sufficient response from even the wliole 



