110 THE FISHERIES. 



almost the very first step in useful legislation. When 

 the political turmoils of 1849 had subsided^ an ef- 

 fort was at once made, to direct th« national mind 

 to our neglected resources. The land, it had been 

 calculated, did not produce more than one-fourth its 

 capabihties : our river fisheries were exhausted, and 

 our sea fisheries totally neglected : our mines and 

 other sources of national prosperity seemed to be 

 absolutely unthought of. A system of practical in- 

 struction, combined with measures for the develop- 

 ment of all our resources, was then, for the first 

 time, initiated. Lord Clarendon endeavoured to in- 

 graft the Saxon energy of character, upon the insta- 

 bihty of the Celt, and thus an impetus was given, 

 which we do believe — if these two important mea- 

 sures be now equitably settled — will tend to our 

 enfranchisement from national indolence, and effect 

 a complete change in the national character. When 

 employment and education, together with improved 

 social habits, and increased comforts, come in at the 

 door ; combination, and outrage, and discontent will 

 fly out at the window. 



We have just mentioned the sea-fisheries. It is 

 scarcely credible that so little attention has been 

 given to that vast resource. On a former occasion 

 we contrasted the manner, in which the Scotch Sea- 

 fisheries are encouraged by the Government, with 

 the utter neglect of our own — the produce of the 

 Scotch Herring Fisheries alone, for the year 1849, 

 amounting to 1,151,979 barrels — worth upwards of 



