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the past thirty years, for promoting and extending the Irish fisheries, 

 have been so singularly unproductive of beneficial results. 



The writer considers that ' the capturing of Fish in the sea should 

 be perfectly free and unrestricted, and that parties thus engaged should 

 be allowed to introduce and use all improved modes and engines with- 

 out restraint or limitation; for if sea fishing is to be remunerative, 

 (and unless it is so, no person will follow it as a trade,) the great 

 object to be kept in view is to take the largest quantity of fish with 

 the smallest expenditure of labour and capital.' Without proposing to 

 enter into the difficult question of the expediency of restrictions, and 

 entertaining great deference to the opinion of the writer, it may be 

 observed that a mass of evidence exists as to the injurious effects of 

 drag nets on the spawn of fish, and in driving away the shoals of her- 

 rings. It is also remarked, that the Irish fisherman should be allowed 

 the same measure of freedom in pursuing his calling, and using im- 

 proved engines, as is enjoyed by his fellow craftsmen in Great 

 Britain. 



The six Reports from the district of Ring, in the county of Water- 

 ford, are referred to, as comprising the questions of removal of restric- 

 tions, practical Instructors, small loans, improved boats, &c. and also 

 fishing charts. Upon the latter point the writer states with gratifica- 

 tion, that the Admiralty has responded to the request made to them, 

 and that a naval officer of much hydrographical experience, who has been 

 long engaged on the coast survey of Ireland, has received instructions 

 to examine the different banks that lie to the south. Government 

 assistance is not recommended, excepting in the construction of Piers. 

 1 What is mainly wanted for the successful prosecution of Sea fishing, 

 besides the removal of restrictions, is Self-reliance.' 



An interesting experiment is now in progress on a part of the coast 

 of Cork, under the enterprising and benevolent exertions of some 

 natives of Scotland, for the formation of a fishing establishment, prin- 

 cipally through means of a curing station, and the employment of the 

 native fishermen. Its success must chiefly depend on the activity of 

 the latter, on their physical and' moral condition, and on their means 

 and appliances for taking fish. These men are represented as being in 

 a state of destitution, and as unfit to endure exposure to weather, being 

 without adequate clothing and shoes. The assistance of a loan fund, 

 under sufficient security and stringent regulations, might perhaps here 

 be brought in. 



The two last Reports, the fifth and sixth, to September, 1849, from 

 the Ring district, (' Facts from the Fisheries? Waterford, 1849,) may be 

 referred to by any who would seek to improve the condition of a fish- 

 ing community on the coast by an economic system of assistance. A 

 freat improvement is reported in the condition and appearance of the 

 ishermen and their families, their boats and fishing gear were in good 

 order and active operation, their dwellings were in a state of comfort, 

 and the whole place was found to be wearing a thriving aspect. The 

 value of the stock of salt fish retained by these men, who had formerly 

 been in a miserable condition, for their own use during Lent, was cal- 

 culated at upwards of 1,200 ! This, besides what had been sold, had 

 all been caught within a few previous weeks by trammel nets, supplied 

 by means of small loans to the crews of twenty-one boats. 



p 



