IV PREFACE. 



The Act of 1842 appears to have dealt with the Salmon 

 Fishery question not only with impolicy but injustice. Al- 

 though the last advice given to the ' brotherhood' by their 

 patriarch is the memorable counsel ' study to be quiet,' some 

 anger would have been felt even by the gentle linen-draper of 

 Fleet-street, could he visit Ireland to pursue his sport in our 

 times. I have witnessed the seriously unjust effects of the 

 Act, in depriving of their livelihood numerous fishermen, who 

 formerly took Salmon by means of boats and nets. 



The difficulties and costliness of law present impediments 

 to the attainment of justice in many cases connected with River 

 Fisheries. 



The Slaney, where 1 live, is broad and tidal : any exclusive 

 privileges of fishing have ceased by disuse. A little stream 

 winds through a valley into that river, in former days when 

 its banks were marshy, and the country unprovided with roads 

 and bridges this rivulet presented an impediment, in travelling 

 down to the county town, to persons who lived higher up in 

 the country; floods either from rain or high tides frequently 

 inundated the valley, and it then became impassable. To keep 

 a passage over this water as often as the Courts of Session 

 were held at the Assize town was the service* by which that 

 valley was held when feudal tenures were customary in Ireland. 

 It is gratifying to think that a somewhat analogous service 

 will be performed, if these pages shall forward the cause of 

 justice in any degree, either by promoting access of the Salmon 

 tribe to those further up in the land, or by at all facilitating to 

 the public an access to the Courts of Law in respect of our 

 River Fisheries. 



H. F.'H. 



POLE-HORE, WEXFOKD, 29*7* May, 1850. 



* MS. vol. ' Wardships,' 1598 Ulster's Office, 'vol. ii., p. 68; and Inquis. Cane. 

 Hib. Repert. Lageniae, Wexford, No. 33, Car. I. 1629 j folio, Dublin, 1826, 



