382 



DEEr-SEA FISHING. 



which it has been proved can be worked with advantage 

 in the bay. 



On the north side of the Dingle peninsuha lies Bran- 

 dan Bay, in which trawling has been prohibited since 

 18G0. The fisheries are unimportant along this part of 

 the west coast, and consist chiefly of trammel and line 

 fishing, with oyster dredging in a few places. Emigra- 

 tion has diminished the number of the fishermen, and 

 those who still remain at home devote only a small 

 proj^ortion of tlieir time to such occupations. 



The next division of which we need speak is that of 

 Galway. It comprises a large extent of wild coast 

 broken up into innumerable creeks and ishinds, with a 

 scattered population for the most part in a" state of 

 great poverty, and, except in Galway Bay, carrying on 

 but little fishing besides what they can occasionally do 

 witli their lines. 



The fislieries in Gralway Bay have hardly received 

 the attention which there is every reason to think 

 they deserve ; and unfortunately the locality has been 

 notorious for the lawless proceedings of a section of the 

 fishermen who for many years virtually decided when 

 and how the fisheries should be carried on. It is impos- 

 sible to speak of the Galway Bay fisheries without men- 

 tioning the Oladdagh men. This community is formed 



