138 



piers, in the harbours rescrted to by fishermen, so badly placed for 

 affording shelter, that he could not account for the selection of their 

 sites, and he observed many sites in which piers would be of importance 

 to all classes engaged in industry. He was then informed that the 

 choice of sites for piers was governed by the locality of the property 

 held by land proprietors undertaking to pay a moiety of the cost of 

 erecting them. In this case an evil arises from the aid being made 

 dependent on ' voluntary ' exertion. The land offering the best site 

 may be owned by a heavily-encumbered proprietor, the estate may be 

 under the Court, or the land itself leased. 



Mr. Nimmo's valuable survey of the coast of eleven northern coun- 

 ties is printed in the Appendix to the Report. 



Mr. Donnell's report on Fishery Harbours is also printed. It is 

 closed with the following remarks on the impolicy of requiring local 

 contributions in all cases : 'However presumptuous the expression of 

 disapproval of a legislative enactment may appear, by so humble an 

 individual as myself, I venture to observe that the clause contained in 

 the section of the Act of the 5 Geo. IV., c. 64, which requires local 

 contributions in aid of every grant, works badly. It has the effect of 

 fixing the construction of harbours on inferior instead of superior sites : 

 local contribution is only to be obtained where the individual sub- 

 scribing will derive personal advantage; he therefore, in general, pro- 

 poses the site as the condition of his subscription ; and though a pre- 

 ferable site may not be very remote, if local contribution cannot be 

 obtained for it, the Board cannot decide in its favour, but must either 

 submit to grant for the inferior site, or give up the measure altogether. 

 The principle of local contribution is good, but its universal and indis- 

 pensable application, practically renders the selection of the best sites 

 impossible.' 



As an instance of the difficulty caused by this requirement, a case 

 brought before the notice of the Commission may be mentioned. A very 

 enterprising and prosperous fishing community existed at Ballinagoul, 

 on the Waterford coast; the late Fishery Board were so convinced of its 

 importance as to offer to contribute three-fourths of the expense of 

 erecting a pier there, but the proprietors of the soil would not come 

 forward, and although the people themselves offered to contribute in 

 labour, the project was necessarily abandoned. Page 160. 



The Act 9 Vic., cap. 3, allotted a sum of 50,000 for Fishery Piers 

 in Ireland. Three-quarters of the sum required for each might be a 

 free grant, the residue to be secured as the Commissioners saw fit: 

 not to exceed 5,000 in any case. Any person residing, or being 

 proprietor or occupier of land adjacent to the sea coast might apply 

 by way of memorial, praying that such district or place may be ex- 

 amined and the works executed, and undertaking to defray the pre- 

 liminary survey, <fcc., should the work not be proceeded with. 



The Commissioners are empowered to select any place ; also to secure 

 loans upon the county by presentment where a considerable market for 

 fish exists, or rises thereout ; or on the district, or on ' lands.* The 

 grand jury may present without the medium of a previous petit ses- 

 sions. There is also a power to levy tolls. 



The assistance given towards these objects is now dependent on pri- 

 vate applications. This is not desirable. A broad scheme to guide 



