160 CUEING STATIONS — NATIONAL SCHOOLS. 



tion and protection by harbours, landing-places, and 

 roads for the persons engaged in the trade ; and, 



3. To any assistance which can be given through 

 existing establishments to promote practical education 

 in the habits, modes of capture, and curing of fish. 



These, they admit, will effect but little, without a 

 steady market and a remunerating price. " These 

 attained, boats, gear, tackle, and comfortable habitations 

 will soon be found ; and self-interest will powerfully 

 aid education to banish ignorance and prejudices, which 

 are now rather unwisely charged as causes of deficient 

 fisheries." 



To encourage the fisheries by providing a market, the 

 Commissioners established a number of curing stations 

 on the West coast, which have since been made over to 

 private parties, to be carried on as private mercantile 

 speculations. Their example has been extensively 

 followed. It has been found that in these most remote 

 places, fish can be cured in a manner equal to any pro- 

 duced in any other country ; while the curing-house 

 supplies the want of a local market for surplus produce. 

 The trade has been thus commenced, and the founda- 

 tion laid for permanent improvement. 



The National Schools of Ireland form another 

 great branch of the means in operation for the improve- 

 ment of that country. The number of schools open at 

 the close of 1848 was 4109, and of pupils on the rolls 

 507,469 ; the increase of attendance during the year, 

 as compared with 1847, amounting to 104,837 children. 

 The amount of salaries paid to national teachers for the 



