i6 



of 7iecessity, and that point in relation to this question I 

 proceed to enunciate. Recent legislation (whether wrong 

 or right is not the question here) has operated to extinguish 

 individual exertion towards promoting local railways ; 

 and as the development of the fisheries combines a two- 

 fold imperial benefit in the interests of the producer and 

 consumer, it is the duty of the Government to go so far in 

 assistance as to bring the construction of fish-bearing lines 

 under the influence of practical enterprise, by advancing 

 money at a low rate of interest, up to such an amount as 

 they may be advised the undertaking will secure, and 

 advances should be freely made, where the inspectors deem 

 it absolutely necessary, to construct small piers and harbonrs 

 for the safety of the boats. All beyond this would be 

 provided by private enterprise educated up to the knowledge 

 of the existing and general want of supply through the 

 teaching of the Conferences of the Great International 

 Fisheries Exhibition. There is another aid (and God forbid 

 that, while urging the case upon the ground of duty and self- 

 interest as between the Government and people I should be 

 thought to condemn the exercise of spontaneous philan- 

 thropy), and though I make no appeal to charity no one 

 pretending to exhaust the subject of the Irish Fisheries can 

 abstain from noting and recording the divinely impelled 

 experiment of a right noble lady in affording assistance to 

 a hardy and honest class on strict principles of prudence, 

 because the result has proved alike honourable to the kind- 

 ness and sagacity of the giver as it has to the character of the 

 recipients; and during these Conferences, in a less formal man- 

 ner, I stated, on the authority of the banker of Skibbereen, 

 then present, that the result of this industry, succoured by 

 benevolence, had been illustrated by fish purchases requiring 

 on one day ^^7500. I have already shown from official 



