141 



to shape his course in search of fish, should he not succeed in finding 

 them in their accustomed haunts." Facts from the Fisheries. Water- 

 ford, 8vo., 1848. 



Sir John Franklin suggested in 1836, that surveys should be made 

 of the reputed fishing banks on the western coast, to ascertain their 

 precise position, extent, soundings, and the supply of fish resorting to 

 them. 



Some of the charts appertaining to the coast survey were published, 

 and were reported in 1836 to be "sought after with much earnest- 

 ness." Appendix, p. 18. 



The erection of small white beacon posts on rocks, and the buoying 

 of sunken and isolated rocks, forms also another important point in 

 which the aid of Government might be given. 



Where such appliances were provided in the immediate neighbour- 

 hood of the coast, the funds might be leviable by district assessment. 



CONTROL. The Commissioners of British Fisheries, in their report 

 for 1847, refer to the complaints of the reckless destruction of the spawn 

 and fry of herrings every year off the coast of Ayr, by which myriads 

 of that fish are destroyed. They urge the need of enactment to bestow 

 upon them additional discretionary powers to enable them to impose 

 restrictions, and protect the brood of sea fish. 



The Board of Works, as Commissioners of Fisheries in Ireland, although 

 they state in the Seventeenth Report that they have sparingly exercised 

 their restrictive powers in * consideration of the vast extent and illimit- 

 able supply of the ocean,' have sometimes exercised them with great 

 advantage, to the prevention of injury to spawn by the improved 

 methods of fishing by drag-nets. It may perhaps be thought expe- 

 dient to add to these powers the necessary Government control over loan 

 funds, &c. and over any department for Instruction, should such 

 measures be approved. 



INSTRUCTION. It has been seen that the Board of Public Works, as 

 Commissioners of Fisheries, recommend that, beyond the acknowledged 

 necessity for the interposition of the State for the preservation of the 

 peace, and for the formation of public accommodations, direct Govern- 

 ment interference should be extended to any assistance which can be 

 given through existing establishments, to promote practical education 

 in the habits, modes of capture, and curing of fish. 



The Special Commission of 1836 recommended, 'that a Practical Edu- 

 cation in the Manufacture of Nets, and in other fishery avocations, be 

 adopted in the National Schools of the maritime districts of Ireland.' 



The Rev. Mr. Alcock, whose experience in promoting the fisheries 

 in his parish entitles his suggestions to attention, observes : " The 

 Government is deputing Practical Instructors to proceed through the 

 different counties, and deliver lectures on Agricultural subjects, intend- 

 ing thereby to improve the system of farming. Now, if something 

 similar were done for the Fishermen, would it not be the means of 

 effecting much practical good? The difficulties attending such a scheme 

 are few; the Lecturer would not have to travel from farm to farm, nor 

 from parish to parish, in search of an audience ; he would easily find 

 one assembled at every fishing station. He could adopt, as he advanced 

 round the coast, what appeared to him to be the must successful methods 

 of taking the different kinds of fish, and impart such knowledge to 



