124 



and to her vast colonial possessions, but the sunken fortunes of 

 a people still suffering the effects of a long course of national 

 injustice and vicious government, signalized by unparalleled 

 calamities, and linked in internal policy to her own institutions, 

 will now and again press on her like the girdle of iron worn by 

 the penitents of old. 



Looking to the extension of the entire Fisheries, both Sea and 

 Inland, on a broad scale of public advantage, as a general prin- 

 ciple Ireland does not so much require aid from the Treasury 

 as sufficient laws from the Legislature to encourage enterprise, 

 whether on land or by sea. The changes now on foot in this 

 respect must produce prosperous results. 



The prospect for the improvement of a resource Ireland pos- 

 sesses to an extraordinary degree, is at this time become of 

 serious import. In the deficiency of some of those vast sources 

 of wealth coal, minerals, agricultural capital, and manufactures 

 it becomes a national obligation to make the most of natural 

 advantages a duty to see "that nothing be lost." 



The old policy of England in discouraging the exportation of 

 produce from Ireland, whether manufactured or natural, and 

 some jealousies of rival traders, have happily ceased. Unable 

 to compete with the sister countries in the production of manu- 

 factured goods, the Irish people must earn their food by sup- 

 plying it to others. 



At this period of fearful change when the land is rapidly 

 deteriorating in value while our farmers are daily either 

 becoming impoverished, or leaving our shores our poor perish- 

 ing from prolonged distress, and the rich sinking under a pressure 

 of adversity the fate of all " trembling in the balance" it is a 

 paramount duty upon our rulers to foster and enlarge the means 

 of life to a nation afflicted by " a desolation wider than any 

 recorded in history, or shadowed forth by tradition."* 



A degree of excitement appears to have attended the question 

 of the development of Fisheries in all countries, and to pervade 

 most writings upon the subject. This has often led to injudicious 

 efforts, intended to stimulate, but in the end practically inju- 

 rious, t The cause would seem to proceed from the nature of 

 the Resource, of the value of which exaggerated views may be 

 formed, but, while undoubtedly as inexhaustible as the element 

 in which fisheries are prosecuted, its extent, and the circum- 

 stances of the subject generally, are equally uncertain. Who 

 shall measure all 



" The close earth wombs, or the profound seas hide 

 In unknown fathoms ?" 



* Fourteenth Report of the Select Committee on Poor Laws, Ireland, 1849, 

 p. 301. 



t Inquiry of the Wexford Landlord and Tenant Association into the county 

 Wexford Sea Fisheries, 1847. 



