THE ROYAL DUBLIN SOCIETY 335 



be made, and that Government assistance should be 

 sought, as the expense would be considerable. It was 

 ascertained that the work would cost about ^1200 

 per annum, and would probably occupy two years. 

 Mr. Arthur J. Balfour, then chief secretary, was 

 approached ; he evinced deep interest in the work, 

 and urged the importance of directing attention to the 

 distribution of the fish supply on the west coast, and 

 as to how far the fisheries could be relied upon for the 

 support of a large fishing population. Finding that 

 Mr. Balfour was prepared to recommend the Govern- 

 ment to pay half the cost of the work, the Council 

 voted the sum of £600 for the current year, and the 

 survey was at once commenced. For the purposes of 

 the survey the Fingal, a steam yacht of 158 tons, was 

 chartered and suitably equipped. 



Before the plans for the survey were completed, a 

 vacancy occurred in the inspectorship of Irish fisheries, 

 through the death of Major Hayes, and Mr. Green 

 was appointed to the office. Mr. Green was still 

 willing to act for the Society, and to this arrangement 

 the Government readily consented. Professor A. C. 

 Haddon, who had just returned from Torres Straits, 

 acted as naturalist, and Mr. T. H. Poole undertook 

 topographical work. Mr. Green's very interesting re- 

 port, with a narrative of the cruise of the Fingal^ is 

 included in the report of the Council laid before the 

 Society on June the 4th, 1891. 



The steam yacht Fingal was not available for the 

 season of 1 891, but a suitable substitute was found in 

 the s.s. Harlequin^ a ship of 139 tons tonnage, which 

 was accordingly engaged. Mr. Green again took 

 command of the survey, Mr. Ernest W. L. Holt 

 acted as zoologist ; Mr. G. Beamish took charge of 

 physical observations, and Mr. D. H. Lane acted as 



