155 



there should be no saving for several rights, either real or assumed, as 

 the regulation is calculated to benefit all interests. 



Sndly. With respect to stretching nets entirely across rivers, the 

 object of the law is also defeated, because falling short by one inch 

 comes within the law, while the injury intended to be guarded against 

 is committed with impunity. The Commissioners should be invested 

 with power to regulate the length of the nets to be used according to 

 the breadth of the rivers. 



GENERAL REMARKS. Having referred to the material points which 

 we consider require amendment, it may be right to add, that there are 

 minor ones in the 5 & 6 Vic., and subsequent Acts, which if an Act 

 were about to be passed to consolidate these, should be attended to; but 

 it may be unnecessary to submit them in detail. 



The Salmon Fisheries of Ireland are so circumstanced with respect 

 to mixed public and private rights, (the former so far predominating in 

 amount,) and conflicting bodies, of upper and lower tidal, and fresh 

 water interests, that they cannot, as we believe, be governed so as to 

 improve them in any material degree, except through a public depart- 

 ment, and this principle appears to have been fully recognised by the 

 Legislature when 5 <fc 6 Vic. passed. 



The deep sea fisheries also, including the oyster fisheries, require 

 very considerable State regulation. They are in many respects differ- 

 ently circumstanced from those of England, both with respect to the con- 

 dition and habits of the people engaged in prosecuting them, and their 

 geographical character is also different. The many and deep indenta- 

 tions of the Irish coast, where, in narrow spaces, the fishermen are con- 

 centrated, pursuing different modes of fishing, require rules and regu- 

 lations to be made and enforced, which could not be effected by a 

 system of self-government by the people engaged in them. The Legis- 

 lature also recognised this principle with respect to the deep sea fish- 

 eries of Ireland, when the Act of 1842 passed, as will appear by refer- 

 ence to its provisions, and imposed many important and onerous duties 

 upon the Commissioners connected with them. 



To carry out the direct requirements of the Legislature contained in 

 the Fishing Acts, adequate means have not heretofore been applied. 

 There have been only two inspectors employed to perform all the 

 duties connected with both sea and inland fisheries, and the whole 

 sum annually expended by the State, since 1842, has not exceeded an 

 average of 1,200 a-year, for salaries of inspectors, clerks, travelling 

 expenses and advertisements; in fine, for all expenses incurred. 



We respectfully submit, that if it be considered expedient to con- 

 tinue upon the statute book those laws which impose upon a State 

 Department specific duties for the public service, that those duties 

 should be faithfully and fully discharged, and the means afforded for 

 doing so, and that to carry this into effect, the estimate which we 

 submit would be required. And considering the importance to the 

 country of so governing the Irish Fisheries, as to enable them to ad- 

 vance in improvement, and the bad moral effect produced by not carry- 

 ing out the existing laws affecting them, by which the lower classes 

 are made to hold other laws in disrespect, we are fully persuaded 

 that the sum proposed would soon become reproductive many fold, in 

 collateral advantages to the community at large. 



