17T 



fish from the south coast of Ireland, by means of well-boats. The 

 scheme, however, came to nothing, and it was not till 1786 that it was 

 resumed. 



"The system of bounties having taken root in England, was natu- 

 rally adopted by the Irish Parliament, by 3 & 4 Geo. III., twenty 

 shillings per ton was granted on all deep-sea fish; which was subse- 

 quently (25 Geo. III.) limited to fish for curing. The consequence of 

 this change was great distress among the fishermen; and on the 19th 

 of March, 1789, a petition was received from the Skerries fishermen, 

 (the principal body,) complaining of having been ruined by fishing for 

 the bounty on the north-west coast, under the new law; and praying 

 for aid to pay their debts, and carry on the white fishing for Dublin 

 market. By 41 Geo. III., a grant by the British parliament of 

 30,000 was dedicated to bounties for the supplying fresh fish to 

 London, Westminster, or other town or city of Great Britain ; and Mr. 

 Frazer at this period, repeating Doyle's experiments, ascertained the 

 abundant resources of the Nymph Bank; and the Marine Society of 

 London accordingly, having built fishing vessels, for the supply of the 

 London market, offered to let them on hire, to ply on this bank. The 

 then Chief Secretary of Ireland approved of this plan, and recom- 

 mended that two of these vessels should be engaged. In pursuance of 

 the project, 6,000 was assigned out of the Parliamentary grant for 

 the furtherance of the Irish Fisheries; but the recommendation was 

 not followed to execution. In 1802 another effort was made by the 

 Government in behalf of the Irish Fisheries ; and Mr. Frazer was sent 

 to Dublin with orders to hire vessels for experiment, and with permission 

 to apply for revenue cruisers to assist in the furtherance of his object. 



" At this time, says Frazer, well-boats were unknown in Dublin ; but 

 eighty-seven wherries, from twenty to fifty tons, and about eighteen 

 yawls, supplied the city with all the fish it required. In this summer, 

 Frazer proceeded with two hired wherries to the Nymph Bank, where 

 he found abundance of white fish, and still greater quantities further 

 to the westward. The presumed verification of the resources of the 

 bank induced Mr. Secretary Wickham to recommend the formation of 

 a company at Waterford, for fishing it with well-boats; 128 shares, of 

 50 each, were subscribed, the Government adding 10 per cent, to 

 the subscription, and engaging to pay a bounty of 30s. per ton to the 

 vessels so employed. The Government performed its part; but the 

 spirit of party, says Frazer, got possession of the company, and its 

 affairs were so mismanaged, as to inspire the notion that the object was 

 to insure a failure. Frazer, however, succeeded in carrying a cargo of 

 cod to London, which he sold to advantage. According to his autho- 

 rity, capital might have been successfully employed in the Irish Cod 

 Fishery, between October and April, the boats being afterwards sent 

 to the North Seas, off the Feroe Islands. Well-boats might also have 

 plied successfully all the year round, in the Turbot fishery. In 1803, 

 the Marine Society resolved that the Irish Fishery should be further 

 pursued, and offered to subscribe to the Waterford company. The 

 company, however, refused the offer, and the Society subscribed 

 20,000 to fish independently, and on its own account. But eventu- 

 ally their bill of incorporation was thrown out, and nothing further 



N 



