248 INTEODUCTION TO ZOOLOGY. 



This was forcibly put forward by Mr. R. Ball, in 1839, in a lecture de- 

 livered before the Royal Zoological Societj- of Ireland,* in which he showed 

 how much science might be made to conduce to the welfare of fishermen, by 

 affording them information on the nature and habits of fish, their migration, 

 and food, viewed in connection with the geological character of the coast. 

 He at the same time proposed a plan for imparting to them scientific and 

 practical instruction by means of nomadic or wandering schools. 



Subsequently the application of science to our fisheries has been ably 

 urged, both in Londonf and Dublin, J by that eminent naturalist. Professor 

 Edward Forbes. He has shown that the North Atlantic Ocean may be 

 di^^ded into certain zoological provinces ; that each province owes its char- 

 acteristic features to geological changes which occurred in a certain order, 

 and that "the dispositions of the great sea-fisheries of Europe depend upon 

 the disposition of the existing zoological provinces of the European seas." 

 To the last point the learned lecturer called particular attention, and strongly 

 advocated scientific inquiry properly directed, and the training and instruc- 

 tion of fishermen, as suggested by Mr. Ball. 



The great importance of this subject in its bearing upon the British 

 fisheries, and more especially upon those of Ireland, gives additional interest 

 to the following extract from the Thirteenth Report of the Commissioners of 

 National Education in Ireland. 



" VII. 33. The same practical character which we are anxious to give to 

 our country schools, by the mixture of agricultural with literarj' instruction, 

 we shall endeavour to give to such of our own schools as are situated on the 

 coast, by uniting instruction more peculiarly applicable to maritime districts, 

 with the ordinary school education. With the view of promoting this ob- 

 ject, and of testing its practicability, we have made a larger grant towards 

 the establishment of a school in the town of Galway, at the fishing station 

 called the Claddagh. In this school it is proposed that the pupils shall devote 

 a portion of their time to acquiring a knowledge of navigation and of the art 

 of fishing, and shall be employed in manufacturing nets and the various 

 other articles required by fishermen in their trade." 



* Saunders's News Letter, 24th May, 1839. 



t At the Royal Institution, litli May; see Athenseum, 22nd May, 1847. 

 t Before Zoological Society of Ireland, Saunders's News Letter, 29tli May, 1S47. 



