FISHING STATIONS—IRELAND. 385 



owners, and tlie experiments were entrusted to Lieu- 

 tenant Drew, R.N., the Inspecting Commander of the 

 Coastguard at Gralway, a gentleman whose experience 

 in scientific exploration of the sea and dredging should 

 make him, as the Inspectors say, well qualified for the 

 task. The experiments were to be continued through- 

 out the year, and if carefully carried out should produce 

 some valuable results. The reports have not yet been 

 published.^ 



There were six large trawlers at work in Gal way 

 Bay in 1873, but there is room for a much larger 

 number to fish in ; and Galway having the advantage 

 of direct railway communication with Dublin, great 

 facilities are provided for sending the fish to a market 

 where it would be tolerably sure to realize a fair price. 



The most important fishery in the bay, so far as the 

 native fishermen are concerned, is that for herrings. 

 There is some fluctuation in the supply of these fish, 

 but there is rarely a complete failure, and in some 

 seasons the herrings are abundant. *' Claddagh law " 

 often interferes with full advantage being taken of the 

 shoals which come into the bay, there being a super- 

 stitious feeling against beginning the fishery before St. 

 John's Day, the 24th of June. The men from the other 

 villages in the bay sometimes venture out earlier, but it 

 is not good for them if the Claddagh men discover it. 

 The fish may be swarming along their shores, but 

 until the self-constituted rulers of the fishery allow it, 

 not a herring may be caught. It is also considered 

 by these people to be unlucky to fish every day. We 

 are told, however, that from one cause and another the 



^ In the rccentl^'-published Keport of the Inspectors it is stated that these 

 experiments have been suspended in consequence of the removal of the officer 

 to another district. 



2 c 



