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last session of Parliament, and thus been made to participate with 

 them in the responsibilities attaching to the faithful discharge of those 

 duties imposed by the Legislature, we feel that we owe it the public, to 

 the Board, and to ourselves, to point out some deficiencies in adminis- 

 tering the laws, which we conceive have existed since the regulation 

 and management of the fisheries were intrusted to this department, 

 the effect of which we believe has been materially to retard the advance 

 of improvement in the salmon fisheries; and we feel assured, that if 

 our views are considered to be correct that the Board will cordially 

 support us in them, and adopt in future a more active system of govern- 

 ment, should we succeed in making it clear that it is required for the 

 public service, and enjoined by the express provisions of the Acts of 

 the Legislature. 



Being fully aware of the extreme pressure resting upon the mem- 

 bers of the Board for the past three years, arising out of the unfortunate 

 condition of the people of this country, we feel that it was impossible 

 for them to give that attention to this subject which, under other cir- 

 cumstances, might have been more fully rendered, but now that they 

 are relieved from the burden of those duties, connected with the direct 

 and immediate obtainment of food for the starving population, we hope 

 a favourable opportunity is afforded of bringing under their considera- 

 tion a question affecting the good government and development of the 

 fisheries, acknowledged to be a most important natural resource, from 

 which food, wealth, and employment may be derived in an abundant 

 degree, and of which Ireland is at present so much in need, and on 

 whose behalf, as regards the permanent well-being of her people, the 

 Parliament and the Government are at present so solicitous. 



For the purpose of submitting definitely, and in detail, to the Board 

 the opinions which we entertainj we beg to refer to the copy of our 

 Report to the Committee of the House of Commons now sitting for the 

 purpose of inquiring into the state of the Irish Fisheries, and the laws 

 in force affecting them, which we have already laid before the Board, 

 as we feel that it maybe more convenient to avoid repetition, and may 

 be unnecessary to enter more minutely into the subject than we have 

 done in that document, and which, for the purposes of the Annual 

 Report to Parliament, may be appended to this our Report to the 

 Board, and made a portion of it. The only additional remarks which 

 we deem it necessary to make are the following: 



1st. That the regulation of weirs, fishing cruives, and spur walls, 

 referred to therein, cannot be effected except through the medium of 

 the Commissioners of Fisheries, as provided for in 5 & 6 Vic., and that 

 therefore the public being debarred from the power of doing this service 

 for themselves, and persons in the capacity of servants to the public 

 having been appointed for the purpose, the duty we consider, in justice 

 to the public, becomes imperative, and is not discretionary, and we 

 know that much discontent and disapprobation prevail upon part of 

 the public with respect to it. 



2ndly. That with respect to the provision contained in 5 & 6 Vic., 

 with reference to furnishing a statistical account of the Fisheries to 

 Parliament, we beg to state that no means are afforded at present for 

 accomplishing to any useful extent such an account; and this would 

 be an important service, which might be rendered in addition to many 



