THE SEA-FISHERIES OF IRELAND 127 



The Commissioners made many by-laws, most of 

 them prohibitions or restrictions of trawling in 

 certain localities, and in deference to local pre- 

 judices : regulations which most probably in many 

 cases only served to retard the development of the 

 industry, though no doubt they prevented for 

 the time local agitation and disputes. The duties 

 of the department seem to have been confined to 

 the elaboration of these local restrictions. Beyond 

 this, their policy was one of non-interference with 

 the course of the industry. The " Inspecting 

 Commissioner " of the Board found it somewhat 

 difficult to inform the Commission of 1863 what 

 his duties actually were. He had " to carry out 

 the directions of the Board ; their policy was to 

 do as little as possible, but to preserve peace if 

 possible." "To be candid," he said, "I have at 

 times considered that our department was a species 

 of delusion. We were supposed to be the persons 

 having charge of the sea-fisheries of Ireland. Our 

 duties, though strictly observed, according to the 

 instructions given in the Act, were mistaken by 

 the public. It was believed that we were to be 

 the encouragers of the fisheries, and many persons, 

 who perhaps felt that that duty would have 

 devolved upon themselves as proprietors, looked to 

 us as the parties whose duty it was to do that 

 which we thought we had no right to do." * 



1 Report, Royal Commission of 1863, Evidence, Qs. 37,014 and 



37,05- 



