72 THE FISHERIES. 



We have now detailed the requirements for call- 

 ing into active existence the vast resources of our 

 fisheries. We have stated them, we hope, impar- 

 tially — at all events, independently. We cannot ac- 

 quiesce in the justice or propriety of the " non-inter- 

 ference " system, which has been so long and so stu- 

 diously recommended, but which has so signally 

 failed ; nor do we concur with those who promul- 

 gate the cold and iron dogmas of political economy : 

 to preach self-reHance to the spell-bound and starv- 

 ing Celt, is but to tell him to despair. Those dog- 

 mas may be palatable or may be applicable to hap- 

 pier chmes, but they toll with fatal knell upon the 

 desolate condition, and exhausted resources of our 

 fishermen. Our coast population possess ample en- 

 ergy and self-rehance, if only properly set in motion 

 and directed ; and if these iron rules were relaxed, 

 habits of industry and enterprise would be engen- 

 dered in this country, not displeasing (we should 

 hope) even to that school of political philosophy, 

 which now uplifts itself so predominantly amidst 

 the classic porticoes, and academic groves of Man- 

 chester ! 



A feeling prevails, well or ill-founded, that com- 

 mercial jealousies retard the development of our 

 fisheries ; we cannot take upon us to offer any opi- 

 nion upon this head. We have, however, the fact 

 before us, that there is a full development of the 

 British Fisheries, whilst our fisheries are almost 

 hermetically sealed up. Perhaps some apologist 



