THE SEA-FISHERIES OF IRELAND 121 



became a nominal branch of the Board of Inland 

 Navigation, and, for all practical benefit it could 

 confer on the fishing industry, ceased to exist. A 

 period of depression followed, and in 1835 the state 

 of the industry had again become such as to call for 

 the appointment of a Royal Commission of Inquiry. 

 This body reported in 1837, anc ^ a Bill was 

 introduced in 1838 by the Chief Secretary (Lord 

 Morpeth) and the Attorney-General (Mr Serjeant 

 Wolfe), to give effect to its recommendations. 

 Apparently the prospect of further encourage- 

 ment of the Irish fisheries proved alarming to 

 fishermen in Scotland, and adverse influences were 

 brought to bear against the Bill. It was apparently 

 regarded as unfair to the latter country that the 

 bounty system should be re-introduced into Ireland 

 after it had ceased in Scotland. The Bill was 

 committed for i6th May 1838, but was deferred 

 three times a week till 23rd July. On the day 

 before that date a deputation from Scotland, headed 

 by the Duke of Sutherland, waited on the Govern- 

 ment and protested against the proposals of the 

 Bill. On the following day the latter was 

 abandoned. " There was every reason to justify 

 the belief that the interests of the Irish fisheries 

 on that occasion were sacrificed in order to appease 

 the jealousy of Scotland." 1 No action was then 

 taken until 1842, when an Act of that year 2 trans- 



1 See Report on the Coast and Deep-sea Fisheries of Ireland^ 1870, 

 p. 8. 2 5 and 6 Viet. c. 106. 



