119 



They conclude by observing, that in the domestic market must 

 be found the vent for additional production. That great quan- 

 tities of fish taken were lost for want of these stations which, 

 if established and well appointed, would " avert the recurrence 

 of an evil so extensively injurious, which not only deprives the 

 fisherman of a reward for his industry, but renders an important 

 article of diet unfit for use." 



FISHERY CORPORATIONS AND COMPANIES. The well-known 

 difficulties and evils attending their working are adverted to, and 

 the remarks on this head closed as follows: "As parts of a 

 grand plan of national encouragement to the fisheries, the Com- 

 missioners are bound to speak of such speculations according to 

 the experience of the past, and to hold out but small hopes of 

 their eventual benefit; if any success is to be expected through 

 their operation, the associators must confine themselves to the 

 business of curers and exporters. Limited to such mercantile 

 operations, they may succeed ; while by affording employment to 

 the fishermen, they would be productive of at least temporary 

 good. But if they extend their activity to Fishing, (a business 

 peculiarly dependent on individual enterprise, skill, and care,) 

 they will but diminish the activity and impair the morals of the 

 fishermen hired, and eventually leave the fisheries in a worse 

 condition than that in which they found them." 



SUMMARY OF REMEDIAL MEASURES. " It is probably ex- 

 pected that some great proposition for a sudden improvement 

 of the Irish Fisheries will originate with this Commission; but 

 whatever disappointment may arise from the confession, the 

 Commissioners feel it a duty to declare, that the result of their 

 most anxious inquiries is, a full persuasion that no means can be 

 proposed for obtaining, by any short process, so desirable an event. 

 The progress of a gradual improvement may indeed be assisted 

 and hastened by certain measures, in which the Government 

 might beneficially co-operate ; but a real and permanent prospe- 

 rity can only be effected by the hearty endeavours of individuals 

 and bodies, locally interested, who, from good motives, or trading 

 enterprise, may seize favourable opportunities and apply means for 

 the purpose. The Commissioners, therefore, cannot recommend 

 that the Government should take a part in any other remedial 

 measures, than those embraced by the following propositions : 



" 1st. That in order to remove many vexatious doubts on the 

 laws as they at present exist, every act in any way relating to 

 the SEA FISHERIES of Ireland be totally repealed, and that all 

 provisions deemed necessary, be embodied in one statute, 



"2nd. That the chief superintendence and control of all matters 

 connected with the Fisheries be vested in some Public Depart- 

 ment, which shall make an annual report of its proceedings, to 

 be laid before Parliament. 



