41 



An exclusive right to the surrounding sea has been conceded to 

 each nation, on its own coasts, within cannon shot of the shore.* 

 But in such a field, where the rivals of three countries may 

 meet, or the natives themselves quarrel as to debatable grounds 

 or disputed methods, the intervention of authority is often 

 requisite. To interfere, control, and restrict with judgment, 

 seems to require the practical experience of a follower of the 

 craft, combined with the knowledge of the naturalist and the 

 hydrographer. 



The Deep sea and In-shore fisheries of Ireland appear to need 

 and deserve an active care and liberal policy to be extended to 

 them, to lay the foundation for permanent and important improve- 

 ment. With regard to the extent to which Government inter- 

 ference and assistance may be legitimately and usefully applied, 

 within the bounds of strict and impartial justice to this country, 

 the amount to which they have received the aid of public 

 money, or now receive it, may be placed in contrast to that 

 expended for those of Scotland. According to a returnf printed 

 by order of the House of Commons, the following sums were 

 granted for the encouragement of the British Fisheries : 



From 1809 to 1819, . . 327,282 9 6 

 1819 to 1829, . . 762,461 8^ 

 1829 to 1841, . . 192,977 13 10 



1,282,721 4 OJ 



In 1819 Ireland commenced to receive similar pecuniary aid, 

 and from 1819 to 1830, received 259,358 6s. 6d. : showing 

 a receipt by British fisheries in excess of the sum accorded to 

 Irish of more than one million sterling. 



In 1830, bounties were extinguished in both countries, the 

 whole staff and establishment abolished in Ireland, and the same 

 Act which repealed the Irish fishery encouragement, continued 

 all encouragement for Scotland, except the bounties. 



A return moved for by Sir Henry Winston Barron, (29th 

 May, 1845,) shows that in ten years from 1835 to 1844, 

 Scotland has received as 'grants for promoting the Scotch 

 fisheries:' for the general purposes of the service (average 

 11,000 a year), 114,700; for building piers and quays, 

 24,091 ; for repairing the boats of poor fishermen, 5,000; total, 

 143,791. Ireland in the same time received 18,842 2s. 4d. 



From 1844 up to the present time, Scotland continues to 

 receive at the rate of 14,000 a year, and Ireland annually at 

 the rate of about l,200. 



There has certainly been a sum of 90,000 allotted during 



* M'Mahon on the Fisheries. Dublin Review, 1842. 



t Returns moved for by E. B. Roche, esq., M.P., 1st July, 1842. 



