13 



in by a steam winch in about three hours ; the mast is 

 lowered and elevated by it, and so are the sails. Besides 

 this, the boat carries one man less, and could, without in- 

 convenience, dispense with two — so great a labour saver is 

 the steam apparatus. 



From this it will be seen that the application of steam 

 for fishing purposes is proven a success, and should be 

 encouraged and more generally adopted by our fishermen. 



The cost of the steam winch is only about £']0 — one 

 man's sJtare or wages for one year would pay for it — it 

 would be a permanent benefit to our boats, and I hope 

 that the delays at the fishing ground are of the past, and 

 that steam appliances will be generally adopted, and so 

 render more easy the delivery of the fish, and improve and 

 economise the general working of the fishery. Havin"- 

 explained the various ways in which nets are " cured " and 

 worked, I come to the important portion of my paper 

 dealing with the transmission of sea fishes, and particularly 

 of mackerel, which is one of the most perishable. 



As the mackerel season begins towards the middle of 

 March, the weather is still cold and the fish does not need 

 ice to preserve it until it gets to market ; but as the season 

 advances, a considerable amount of ice is used, and with 

 this I shall deal afterwards. 



When the fish is caught (at distances varying from three 

 to forty miles ofi" the land) the fishing boat makes sail for 

 Kinsale, the headquarters of the merchants, or, if they 

 happen to be too far west, towards Baltimore. The time 

 occupied in reaching the harbour is long or short, accord- 

 ing to the distance and wind. 



At the mouth of Kinsale Harbour, 3I miles from the 

 town, they are met by the rowing boats of the bu^'ers. If 

 their catches arc small they are transferred to the rowing 



