THE FISHERIES. 99 



Works the administration of the fisheries, rendered 

 truly difficult and arduous by the repeal of so many 

 ancient statutes. In place of many express pro- 

 visions of those statutes, was substituted a power 4;o 

 make by-laws and regulations, which demanded from 

 the Board appointed to frame these by-laws and re- 

 gulations, an extensive acquaintance with the very 

 technical subject with which they had to deal, and 

 one which, in its nature, was intricate and compli- 

 cated ; but neither the Board collectively, nor any 

 individual member of it, had the necessary experience 

 or knowledge of the subject to guide them ; and the 

 consequence was, that theories the most absurd took 

 the place of substantive facts, long known and ascer- 

 tained ; by-laws were made, and regulations promul- 

 gated, repulsive to the understanding of the whole 

 fishing community ; and Acts, and amended Acts 

 were passed, making confusion worse confounded : 

 memorials were daily laid before the Commissioners, 

 who, having no independent knowledge of their own 

 for their guidance, groped their way as well as they 

 could, until at length the public prints, pubhc meet- 

 ings, and, finally, a Select Committee of the House 

 of Commons, proclaimed the utter incapacity of the 

 Board of Works to administer the fisheries.* 



* '' Considering the number and extent of duties devolved upon 

 the Board in so many other departments of public business, your 

 committee is of opinioa, that under the peculiar circumstances of 

 the Salmon-fisheries of Ireland, and regard being had to the mary 

 coiiflictiug rights and claims arising out of the same, it is abso- 



