149 



Under these circumstances, the Commissioners would feel themselves 

 compelled to ask a long extension of time for making their Report, if it 

 were necessary to go into a separate investigation on behalf of Ireland; 

 but they are satisfied that no such necessity exists that whatever laws 

 are requisite for the British Salmon Fisheries, will be found generally 

 sufficient for those of Ireland. Convinced, also, that no industry on 

 their part could lead to the collection of a fuller body of evidence, than 

 that already accumulated in the Parliamentary Reports, they cannot 

 reasonably hope to arrive at conclusions more satisfactory to all the 

 parties interested, than those obtained by the long and laborious inves- 

 tigations of the Parliamentary Committees. 



They therefore deem it most expedient, as well with a view to public 

 economy, as to the early relief of the Irish Proprietors, to close their 

 labours now; referring to the evidence they have collected, and to the 

 several reports on the British Salmon Fisheries, printed by order of the 

 House of Commons ; and suggesting that measures be taken for 

 embracing the Irish Salmon Fisheries in any Act which will arise out 

 of these researches of the Parliamentary Committees with such addi- 

 tions as may be found necessary in placing the Fisheries of the two 

 Countries on the same legal footing. 



Department of Public Works, Dublin, 

 4th November, 1836, 



III. 



REPORT 011 the GOVERNMENT of the SALMON FISHERIES of 

 IRELAND, and the STATE of the LAWS at present affecting 

 them. 



THE Act of 5 & 6 Vic., c. 106, passed in 1842, was for the purpose of 

 consolidating and amending the Acts then in force for the regulation 

 of the Irish Fisheries ; it repeals all the former Acts. 5 & 6 Vic. c. 

 106, s. 2, constitutes the Commissioners of Public Works in Ireland, 

 Commissioners for the execution of this Act, and gives them power, 

 with the sanction of the Treasury, to appoint any number of clerks, 

 inspectors, or other officers, which may be necessary. 



The Commissioners are intrusted with a variety of important duties. 

 We think that a more active exercise of the powers vested in them, 

 than has hitherto been adopted, is expressly required by the provisions 

 of the Act, and essentially necessary for the material improvement of 

 the Fisheries; and that in some cases sufficient provision being made, 

 no difficulty exists in enforcing the law, while in others the law may 

 require alteration and amendment. 



REGULATION OF FISHING AND MILL WEIRS WHERE COMPENSATION is 

 NOT TO BE MADE. Section 41 provides, that after the 1st day of January, 

 1843, in all standing fishing weirs, a free share, of certain dimensions, 

 shall be left, and that existing free shares shall not be reduced in 

 width; and imposes a penalty for omission in one case, and for com- 

 mission in the other. Section 54 provides, that spur walls of greater 

 length than twenty feet, shall not be attached or suffered to remain to 

 any cruive weir or cruive dam used for fishing. 



