35 



Mr. Walsh seconded the vote of thanks. He said Mr. 

 Blake, who had given himself great trouble in connection 

 with the fisheries of Ireland, had slightly misunderstood 

 some remarks which he made in connection with the Irish 

 fisheries. He did not say that they required State aid for 

 the introduction of steam carriers ; but he pointed out that 

 these would be very useful. The State aid he asked for 

 Ireland was in connection with what Mr. Blake now said 

 was given, viz., the grant of ^50,000 for the promotion 

 of fishermen ownerships. That was a very small amount 

 of money for such a purpose, and last year only ;^ 900 was 

 given to the county of Cork, from which county over a 

 quarter of a million pounds' worth of fish was shipped to 

 England, for food, in 14 weeks. In that respect they re- 

 quired larger aid from Government, but the aid he spoke 

 of, as being particularly necessary, was in the matter of 

 technical education with regard to net-making, boat-build- 

 ing, curing-houses, &c., and he was glad to find that his 

 ideas with regard to this matter, and also the transmission 

 of fish, were approved. He hoped these Papers and the 

 discussions on them would do some good, and that the wants 

 of Irish fishermen would not be altogether forgotten. 

 (The vote of thanks having been carried unanimously), 

 The Chairman said it had been a sincere pleasure to 

 him to attend and to listen to the extremely interesting 

 discussion. If he might be permitted to add anything 

 personal, he might say that it was always a matter of 

 sincere pleasure to contribute, in however small a way, to 

 anything which would favour the cause of his dear native 

 country. Mr. Bloomfield had made out a very strong case 

 indeed, and had proved to demonstration the absolute 

 ignorance which existed on the subject of Irish fisheries, and 

 had also proved how little had been done by the Imperial 



