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That the policy of ' non-interference' has too far influenced 

 the governing authorities of the Irish Fisheries ; that a more 

 liberal policy in affording means for a more active administration 

 in carrying out the Act would have been productive of extensive 

 benefit to the country ; that the views acted upon were not in 

 accordance either with the intention of Government, the express 

 provisions of the Statutes, or commensurate with the require- 

 ments of the subject; and that the continuance of such a 

 policy must leave much unremedied that ought to be attended 

 to, discourage many from taking a part in this long-neglected 

 element for re-establishing our national prosperity, and generally 

 retard improvement. 



The systematic non-interference of the Board of Works was 

 adopted and justified upon a principle : the question now is 

 is that system good or bad ? What has been the success of the 

 policy both of the Act of 1 842, and of the subsequent control ? 

 The result appears in one broad feature of neglect. 



The cry that 'self-reliance' and 'self-government' must be 

 forced upon Ireland may proceed from some who are not inti- 

 mately acquainted with this country. Admitting the general 

 principle to be admirable, and that in all matters it is most de- 

 sirable that Irishmen should learn to rely on their own exertions, 

 and in many to govern their own affairs in all the perfection of 

 English institutions, still it may be asserted, that it cannot be 

 applied in its entirety to such matters as the Sea and Inland 

 Fisheries of Ireland involving so many mixed interests, and par- 

 taking so greatly of a public character. The analogous instance 

 of the Board of Poor Law Commissioners has been already 

 noticed. For the preservation of the peace, the enforcement of 

 the law, and the protection of life and property, crown lawyers, 

 prosecutors, and clerks of the crown and peace are more re- 

 quired in Ireland than in England. 



It will perhaps not be thought foreign to the subject, in an 

 * Inquiry' of this nature, to broach other matters of an analogous 

 character, and which appear greatly to need investigation as to 

 bases for sound arrangements. There are many questions of 

 deep moment to this country, apparently requiring not only an 

 acquaintance with the principles of economic science, but with 

 Irish history and ethnology, and a practical and intimate know- 

 ledge of their several bearings, as all tending to create the wide 

 difference between Ireland and England. 



The 'voluntary' and 'self-managing' systems have been proved 

 by experience to be unsuitable to Ireland in some points, when 

 carried to an excess. 



It is a grave question as to how the voluntary system works, 

 or would succeed, for the support of religious pastors in each 

 denomination of creed. The dependence of the poor on volun- 



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