384 DEEP-SEA FISHING. 



was partially allayed in 1853, when a subscription was 

 got up for the purpose of fitting out many of the Clad- 

 dagh boats with trawls, the objection to that mode of 

 fishing became as strong as ever when their gear began 

 to wear out ; and violence was again resorted to in 

 order to put a stop to the trawling by the large 

 smacks, which did not belong to the Claddagh fisher- 

 men. It is needless to recount the various disturbances 

 which have taken place in later years, more than once 

 requiring the presence of a gunboat to protect the 

 trawlers ; but although the population of the Claddagh 

 has been rapidly diminishing, the same spirit seems to 

 continue; and in the Annual Report (1872) by the 

 Coastguard to the Inspectors of Fisheries we are sorry 

 to find it again stated that " conflicts have taken place 

 between Claddagh fishermen and trawlers, the reason 

 assigned being that the mode of capture practised 

 by the latter destroys the spawn and young fry." 

 The Inspectors themselves report ^ that the conduct of 

 the Claddagh men on this last occasion was so bad, 

 " that after an investigation by a very large bench of 

 magistrates, a number of them were returned for trial 

 at the assizes." 



In consequence of the difficulty in arriving at any 

 satisfactory conclusion from the evidence of the Clad- 

 dagh men against the trawlers, the latter having 

 declared that their lives would be endangered if they 

 ventured into court to defend themselves, it was deter- 

 mined by the Inspectors to carry out a systematic 

 examination of the bay with the object of ascertaining 

 whether spawn was ever brought up in the trawl, and 

 to what extent the young fry were destroyed. Two 

 trawl-boats were gratuitously provided by the smad^- 



' Uvjiurt of TnsjKclors for 1872, \>. 8. 



