67 



of the British Government and of the Irish proprietary in pro- 

 viding for it, are considered. 



" Previous to this visitation, we had observed, as detailed in 

 our annual reports, the symptoms of a growing prosperity, and 

 a tendency to the development of individual enterprise and 

 industry in the Sea Fisheries, progressing with the physical 

 improvement of the country in other matters, and accompany- 

 ing, if not consequent upon, the removal of all unnecessary 

 restrictions and detailed interference* in the trade. But per- 

 haps no trade or pursuit is more susceptible of depressing 

 influences than these fisheries, from the variable nature of the 

 demand, and the numerous direct risks to which it is liable. 

 With none it is more dangerous to tamper by direct protective 

 duties, bounties, or adventitious aid, and minute Government 

 interference ; whilst, for the very same reasons, none requires 

 more encouragement, more support from the parties locally 

 interested, and the diffusion of sound practical education in all 

 ways in which it can be legitimately given. 



" If these observations be admitted as generally applicable, 

 they appear to us peculiarly so with regard to Ireland, where, 

 on the advent of the famine, scarcely a curing establishment 

 existed in the island ; and though surrounded with seas abound- 

 ing in fish, this country still imported the great bulk of its 

 cured fish from Scotland, Newfoundland, and other places : 

 where, in fact, the fisheries, being settled on no sound com- 

 mercial basis, were in the first instance threatened with annihi- 

 lation on the west and south coasts the people deserting their 

 boats and the trade in masses ; pawning their fishing gear in 

 despair of obtaining adequate markets for the produce of their 

 industry ; and availing themselves of every other less hazardous 

 or more direct and effective means of procuring food to sustain 

 their bare existence." 



On the above passage it may be observed, that the remark 

 as to Fisheries being settled on no sound basis applies to this 

 Country, though reading as if applicable to Scotland, &c. It 

 may be suggested, that if a similar amount of aid expended in 

 supporting the trade there, were allotted to further its establish- 

 ment in Ireland, favourable results might be produced, which 

 would enable her to compete successfully in her own markets, 

 where a demand existed even during the famine, and was not 

 supplied by native industry. It certainly appears, that although 

 Government measures were withdrawn, and advantageously 

 according to the views put forth, little was accomplished in the 



* The nature and extent of the restrictions and interference that existed pre- 

 viously is not mentioned ; nor could they exist when there was no Board since 

 1830. 



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