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The principle of non-interference by Government set forth 

 in the " Suggestions," will be shown to pervade the subsequent 

 reports of the Board of Public Works, and to have guided 

 their proceedings after the management of the fisheries was 

 committed to them by the Act of 1842. The original intent 

 seems chiefly to have been to discourage ideas of pecuniary 

 aid to the Sea fisheries, such as a renewal of the old system of 

 bounties, loans, or donations (the soundness of the principle of 

 which was doubtful, and the application had been vicious in 

 practice), or the formation of a costly system of superinten- 

 dence by Government functionaries ; and also to prevent depen- 

 dence on "Interference," in matters where the parties interested 

 could resort to the law, or be reasonably expected to manage 

 their own affairs. But it will be shown and submitted that the 

 line of policy sketched out has been too rigidly interpreted, (and 

 perhaps unintentionally misapplied,) and that in the endeavour 

 to maintain the wholesome doctrine that the Irish community 

 should learn not to lean unduly upon the aid of government help 

 or authority in matters of enterprise, or in the application of the 

 laws, the other extreme has been fallen into, by carrying it out 

 with reference to the regulation of the Fisheries of Ireland, 

 which claim more, perhaps, of the fostering care and direct 

 interposition and control of the State than those of other 

 countries, where the prospects, habits, and minds of the people 

 engaged in them may require it less. 



So well acknowledged is this need in the case of Ireland, 

 that a direct interference between Landlord and Tenant is con- 

 stantly proposed, and a measure has been recently introduced 

 for the appointment of inspectors by Government, to value and 

 make an award on improvements effected on the land by 

 tenants. Such an extraordinary interference with private pro- 

 perty, arrangements as to which are effected in England with- 

 out any such means, can only be justifiable on the grounds of 

 its extreme necessity, and for the advancement of the country. 

 An analogous instance of governing control exists in the power- 

 ful position of the Poor Law Commissioners over boards of 

 guardians, a semi-elective body, but requiring the direction of a 

 central head. The success of the principle of ' self-manage- 

 ment' must mainly depend on the private nature of the property 

 concerned. It cannot be disputed that laws, or a governing 

 system suitable to such property, are inapplicable to that of 

 which the elements are essentially different. That the British 

 fishery laws could be expected to act beneficially, and for prac- 

 tical good in Ireland, must imply a close analogy in all points. 

 On this head, the evidence of the Lord Advocate of Scotland 

 before the select committee of last year, shows that the Scottish 

 fisheries are chiefly vested in private persons ; while the evi- 



