13T 



improvements then it would undoubtedly be advantageous to raise 

 money by subscription, and constitute the subscribers into a " Society 

 for extending the Fisheries and improving the Sea Coast of Ireland." 



' An association similar to the British Fishery Society, I conceive 

 might be of essential service to Ireland, provided it confined its encou- 

 ragement, as in the instance of the British Fishery Society, strictly to 

 harbour accommodation, and the feuing the ground in favourable situ- 

 ations leaving every other detail connected with the prosecution of 

 the Fisheries to private enterprise.' Appendix, pp. 56, 57. 



It is hardly necessary to draw attention to the last observations. 

 The details of fishing business appear especially to require to be left to 

 individual enterprise and attention, and to demand a rigid system 

 of economy. A curing establishment will hardly succeed unless it is 

 the speculation of one person, and a project upon which his livelihood 

 depends. Under the most favourable circumstance^, good and frugal 

 management is essential. Notwithstanding the abundant supplies of 

 fish which occasionally resort to the coast, Irishmen have to compete 

 with communities both in Scotland and Newfoundland, who have the 

 advantage of a more certain source, and who are long and well trained 

 to the cure of the article. Fluctuations in the demand must be ex- 

 pected, but should not discourage, when it is remembered that the home 

 market furnishes the largest demand for the fish of Scotland, and that 

 Newfoundland fish is also consumed here. 



SEA FISHERIES. Measures in which assistance or control from the 

 State appear to be legitimately applicable to the Irish Sea Fisheries, 

 in aid of enterprise or of local exertion. 



These may be classed under the heads of Public Accommodations, 

 Control, and Instruction. 



To the great primary duty of Government, the protection of the 

 community from fraud and violence, may be added that arising from 

 the expediency of affording additional securities for the application of 

 capital and labour, wherever these cannot be expected to be obtained 

 by private outlay, or where individual interest is not sufficient to pro- 

 vide them. 



PUBLIC ACCOMMODATIONS. Safety-harbours and piers have always 

 been recognised as undertakings which cannot be expected to proceed 

 from private wants or enterprise alone, on account of their magnitude, 

 as open to the public at large, and as dependent on the power to levy 

 tolls. 



Much has been recently done in the construction of these important 

 objects, on which the extension not only of fishing, but of commerce 

 depends. There are, however, parts of the eastern coast of Ireland on 

 which there is yearly a great loss of life and property, which the for- 

 mation of two or three harbours might prevent for the future in a great 

 degree. 



The Scottish Fisheries on the eastern coast are dependent on good 

 harbours, while those of Ireland are for the most part carried on by 

 shore boats. But the increased development of Deep Sea fishing must 

 await the increase of accommodation for the larger vessels which its 

 prosecution requires. 



Sir John Franklin stated in his examination in 1836, that he had 

 lately visited several harbours on the west coast, and found some of the 



