68 



direction of private enterprise, scarcely one curing station having 

 been set up before 1845. 



" We regret that from the unsatisfactory state of the Eegistry 

 (arising from causes hereinafter adverted to), we cannot show 

 with accuracy, in figures, the full results of these depressing 

 causes, at least to the extent which our personal observations, 

 and those of our officers in various departments, lead us to 

 believe have arisen ; but dealing even with the totals of the 

 registry for the whole of Ireland, some idea of the state of facts 

 may be formed from the following abstract, showing the number 

 of vessels, men and boys, engaged in these fisheries at different 

 periods : 



" Thus it would appear, that more than 3,900 first and second 

 class fishing boats, with 23,000 men and boys, and the families 

 supported by them, have been withdrawn from the trade since 

 1845. We are disposed to consider this under the mark ; but 

 when it is borne in mind that the great reduction has inevitably 

 taken place in the distressed districts of the western parts of 

 the island the fisheries on the east having been little, if at all, 

 injuriously affected the magnitude of the evil in the destruc- 

 tion of so much industrial occupation, and the necessity for 

 adequate remedies, will be more apparent." 



The causes from which the correctness of the Registry from 

 whence the tabular estimate was derived may be doubted, are 

 subsequently given. It would appear that the Registry does 

 not show the number of boats withdrawn ; and, that from the 

 licenses not having been cancelled from the commencement, 

 the numbers appeared to increase from 1844 to 1845, though 

 in reality they are believed not to have done so. 



The recent melancholy loss of life and fishing property on 

 the east coast of Scotland has directed the anxious attention 

 of Government towards measures to prevent it for the future ; 

 and we may hope that the far greater deprivations which have 

 been sustained in Ireland will continue to arouse similar efforts 

 in a beneficial direction. 



" Acting on the principles we have adverted to, with a full 

 knowledge of the history of the fisheries of this country, and 

 of the threatened evils which, to those acquainted with the 



