30 THE IRISH AGRARIAN PROBLEM. 



concerns, illegal distillation is secretly carried 

 on in many peasants' cottages in the West, 

 where the so-called " poteen" is manufactured, 

 which is especially dear to the Irish whiskey 

 drinker, by reason of the difficulty of obtaining 

 it and the danger and illegality of its production. 

 No fewer than 1,404 of the stills used in this 

 connection were seized in 1902 by the police. 



The alcohol industry, though only employing 

 5,400 persons, affords a great number of dealers 

 and publicans lucrative opportunities for gain. 

 It is estimated that there are in Ireland 30,572 

 general shopkeepers whose economic success 

 would often be doubtful without a publican's 

 license. In 1902 25,206 licenses were issued.^ 

 The battle for licenses is a moment in Irish 

 life which is much weightier and more important 

 than the battles in the political arena which fill 

 the columns of the newspapers. The power of 

 the publican in the political life of Ireland is 

 making itself felt more and more. In this im- 

 poverished country they are the capitalist class, 

 and as such exert a powerful influence. 



The last great industry — and it has a world- 

 wide reputation — are the great shipbuilding 

 yards in Belfast, especially those of Harland & 

 Wolff, which employ about 9,000 hands. In 

 1900 their production amounted to 93,316 tons 

 gross. The importance of this industry for 

 Belfast lies, apart from every other considera- 



^ Thorn's Official Directory. 



