66 



any case in which it is just that the whole expense should be 

 paid by those parties ; whilst perhaps, as it often happens, those 

 who, in the exercise of the common-law right, receive the 

 largest proportion of benefit, and the first fruits of protection, 

 are yet not bound to contribute towards that protection." The 

 Board considered that the difficulties as to assessment should 

 be overlooked, " when the great value and capabilities of these 

 fisheries are considered, when the necessity for developing all 

 such resources in this country is fully admitted, and whilst we 

 are prepared to add our testimony, that without some adequate 

 system of protection, these fisheries are sensibly deteriorating." 

 The want of funds to make passages for migration over mill- 

 dams, and to remove natural obstructions,* and the erection of 

 illegal stake-weirs, in some cases destroyed by violence, is again 

 alluded to. 



SEA FISHERIES. 



The Seventeenth Report of the Board of Works, dated May, 

 1849, commences with a statement of the experience formed, 

 and views entertained, as to the permanent improvement of 

 this section of the present inquiry. Containing much that is 

 most deserving of attention, it may be given in extenso some 

 remarks being at the same time offered on a few points. 



" In our last annual report we referred to some of the 

 effects of the famine upon the Fisheries of Ireland, particu- 

 larly those of the west coast. We also adverted to the numerous 

 efforts made by benevolent societies, and to the course which, 

 with very small means placed at our disposal, we adopted to 

 stop or turn aside the tide of destitution that threatened to 

 destroy all the existing means of fishing, and that spirit of 

 industry without which no fishery can succeed." 



That spirit had been most unfortunately affected by the vast 

 employment of the people by Government under the Labour 

 Rate Acts, when the average number relieved by daily labour, 

 from October, 1846, to June, 1847, was 356,000 men, the host 

 at one time amounting to more than 700,000 persons. The 

 defects of this sudden and irregular effort sink out of sight 

 when the magnitude of the evil to be met, and the generosity 



* The Obstructions to the migration of fish throughout the rivers of Ireland 

 are manifold, both artificial and natural ; the former greatly predominating in 

 amount. The numerous mill-dams present formidable barriers, which cannot 

 be surmounted by fish heavy with roe except in time of floods; and while 

 detained below, they are an easy prey to the neighbourhood. The extent of pro- 

 duce evidently must chiefly depend on the accessible area of spawning ground. 

 Unless obstructions can be overcome, a vast extent of field, cut oft' by them, 

 will remain unfructified and unprofitable the salmon being unable to reach 

 places where, even if unprotected, a great number will escape destruction, and 

 their young come to perfection floods favouring their escape. Getting fish 

 up to the spawning beds is the cardinal point to aim at. 



