139 



future operations is wanted, and also the power to construct any small 

 harbour or pier wherever it is required, and levy a proportion of the 

 cost off the district. 



' Bid harbours open, public ways extend, 

 And temples, worthier of the God, ascend ; 

 Bid the broad arch the dang'rous flood contain, 

 The mole projected, break the roaring main ; 

 Back to his bounds their subject sea command, 

 And roll obedient rivers through the land : 

 These honours peace to happy Britain brings; 

 These are imperial works, and worthy kings.' 



LOAN FUNDS, SAVINGS' BANKS, BENEFIT SOCIETIES, &c. Although it 

 has been said by a master-observer of human nature that, 



' Borrowing dulls the edge of husbandry,' 



Loan Funds, under careful local management and stringent regulations, 

 are often advantageous in supplying the wants of many minor callings, 

 whose operations require the advance of a little capital, or are subject 

 to vicissitude. Reference may be made to the success of many of 

 these auxiliary societies in Ireland, and especially to that established 

 by the Society of Friends at Ring. The recommendations of the 

 Commission of Inquiry, and the report at page 132, may also be re- 

 ferred to. 



SAVINGS' BANKS are the best reverse of the loan system. They 

 might, perhaps, be made to co-operate, and support a loan fund. 

 Government has recently introduced a measure for an adequate super- 

 vision and control of these institutions. They require legal restric- 

 tions, and a certain amount of interference, to give them that security 

 without which they may rob the provident, and become a hollow cheat. 

 It is one of the primary duties of the State to protect the community 

 from fraud. 



REPAIRING FISHERMEN'S BOATS. It is questionable if grants of money 

 for this purpose, as practised in Scotland, proves a healthy mode of 

 aiding fishermen. The Commissioners for the British Fisheries, in 

 their report for 1847, state : "The grants thus made, though small in 

 amount, have been of great benefit to many a poor fisherman, by 

 enabling him to fit out his boat for the fishery, which otherwise he 

 could not have done; but the Commissioners again refer to the opinion 

 expressed by them in former reports, that this annual grant might be 

 applied in a more beneficial manner in the formation of prudential 

 Societies for the Relief of the poor Fisherman." 



BENEFIT CLUBS. Difficulties are experienced in England in obtain- 

 ing a permanent subscription on the part of the fishermen to these 

 useful institutions. At Scarborough a sort of insurance or benefit 

 club was established, towards which the members were to pay from 

 6d. to 2s. 6d. per month, and to be entitled to the whole of what they 

 had paid, whenever an accident, such as loss of nets or life occurred. 

 A handsome donation was made up as an extra inducement to join; 

 but, after some years, the subscribers fell off, although the funds were 

 good, and no pains were spared to induce the fishermen to subscribe. 



However, the Rev. Mr. Alcock's success in the County Waterford 

 leads to an assurance, that wherever painstaking persons will under- 



