57 



inquiry was held as to the advantages derived from these 

 restrictive bye-laws in this particular bay, the result of 

 which was that the late Sir Richard Griffith, as Chairman 

 of the Commission, resolved to put an end to these restric- 

 tions, and this was done much against the wish of those 

 who opposed trawling. The effect had been that all 

 classes of fishing in that bay had greatly improved. There 

 was another bay where the same restrictions against 

 trawling were imposed in the same year, and had remained 

 to this day, and at the present time the fisheries there were 

 more deteriorated than they were fifty years ago, when 

 trawling was first interfered with. It would no doubt be 

 asked, Why did he not repeal that bye-law? Well, he 

 certainly was inclined to repeal it, and invited the trawlers 

 to give evidence on the point ; but they did not come 

 forward, and therefore there was no power for the Com- 

 missioners to act. 



Dr. DAY said he did not think the remarks of Mr. Brady 

 had much to do with the subject in hand, for he could 

 not help thinking he had given opinions in the place of 

 reasons, and statements in the place of facts. Certainly 

 trawling might be going on and fisheries might improve, 

 but who that knew anything about fishing would admit 

 that because you secured a number of fish you must be 

 improving fisheries ? Acting on that principle, if you 

 killed all the fish you would be improving the fisheries. 

 He could not see that trawling could by any possibility 

 improve fisheries in a bay, unless it killed certain carni- 

 vorous fish ; however, this question would come forward 

 at another time, when it could be more fully discussed 

 With regard to the Paper of Sir James Maitland, he would 

 remark that that gentleman had taken up a position which 

 was assumed by the Government in most foreign countries ; 



