44 



poachers, " You know, your reverence, we did it all under your 

 orders." Such conduct on the part of a magistrate, accord- 

 ing to the opinion of Mr. Litton, M.P., the counsel consulted 

 on the subject by the Irish Society, would amply justify his 

 removal from the commission of the peace ; and to this effect, 

 an appeal was drawn up and presented to Lord Ebrington. 

 And yet, with all these facts fully stated, those parties were 

 not removed from the places they occupy. But it may be 

 accounted for, when it is considered that the Rev. Mr. Staples 

 is brother-in-law to Richard Ponsonby, Bishop of Derry, who 

 is brother to Lord Ponsonby, of Constantinople, and Frederick 

 Ponsonby, who put up for Carlow. Lord Donegal is the 

 father of Lord Belfast, who held an appointment in the 

 household. 



The following is an extract from the Report submitted by 

 their Deputation to the Honourable the Irish Society of 

 London. 



ON FISHERIES. 



" While in Derry the Vice- Admiral Stewart explained to us the difficulties 

 with which the water-keepers and conservators of Lough Foyle Fisheries 

 had to contend, during the season which ended on the 1st of September, 

 owing to the poachers having been encouraged by the Marquess of Donegal, 

 to whom the whole of the Barony of Ennishowen belongs, and who actually 

 sent an order to the chief of the constabulary to protect the men in their 

 illegal fishing. He stated also that it had been given out by some of the 

 agents of the Marquess that the poachers were entitled to protect their pro- 

 perty by arms, and that a vessel belonging to them had been cruising about 

 with armed men on board. He detailed the mode of fishing adopted by 

 the illegal fishermen by the use of bag or still nets. We visited the Moville 

 establishment, and the ice-houses belonging to the lessees. We also visited 

 the various fishing grounds where the poachers carry on their illegal prac- 

 tices. We heard with extreme regret that these poachers acted under the 

 avowed instructions of the Marquess of Donegal, who is the Lord-Lieutenant 

 of the County of Donegal, and, as such, at the head of the magistracy who 

 are entrusted with the preservation of the public peace. Owing to the con- 

 duct of the poachers the barony is burdened with an extra establishment of 

 police. 



" The continuance of these depredations, and the encouragement and 

 support the parties concerned in them appear to receive from the local 

 authorities, is a matter of deep regret to your deputation. Poaching, like 

 smuggling, can only tend to encourage vice and crime, and to lead to the 

 demoralization of the lower classes. Smuggling may be considered as at 

 an end in this neighbourhood, though once so flourishing ; and it is an 

 universal feeling that all are gainers by the change. The pursuit of the 



