74 THE FISHERIES. 



— that to attract population to the coasts should be 

 a leading pohcy with every maratime nation. The 

 time may arise (though distant be the day) when a 

 brave and weather-beaten race of coast population 

 along our sea-board, will be a better display before 

 the neighbouring nations than a bare and deserted 

 coast ; the thews and sinews of the land should be 

 sustained ; and though we compete betimes with 

 other nations in clipper yachts, or in mercantile ma- 

 rine, let our future navies not be deemed unworthy 

 of a thought : reinforced from our shores with a 

 sturdy and well-cultured class of fishermen, we trust 

 the navies of England will long maintain their proud 

 pre-eminence — and in this western isle, the Queen 

 of the waves possesses a jewel, in the gratitude and 

 loyalty of our sea-coast population, brighter than 

 Orient pearl, or costly Koh-i-noor. 



Having concluded our comments upon the Irish 

 fisheries, we indulge the hope that something will be 

 done to upraise them, during the approaching session. 

 The Government, perhaps, is not partial to a Fishery 

 Bill, surrounded as it is, with difficulties, and divided 

 and conflicting interests ; but when the voice of the 

 country has been unequivocally, we might almost say 

 indignantly declared, it is not too much to hope that 

 Government will support a remedial measure so 

 urgently required. The Irish fisheries form a com- 

 ponent part of the resources of the empire, and are 

 entitled to equal encouragement and equal support. 

 Speculative advantages are not here sought : we only 



