8? 



the rescue. Two methods of dealing with the raw 

 material of this great Imperial source of sustenance are 

 required to ensure the greatest possible use of this 

 wondrous gift of the Great Provider : first, the transport 

 of as much as possible to England in its natural state ; 

 and, secondly, to provide curing stations on the coast. 

 These methods should receive equal attention. Herring and 

 sprats visit the coasts in amazing quantities, and while 

 swimming undisturbed on the shores of Donegal, whole 

 parishes within 10 or 15 miles inland have been on the 

 verge of famine, and while fresh fish in London, Man- 

 chester, Birmingham, and all the towns mentioned in the 

 accompanying schedule will ever be above the opportunity 

 of the pauper class, well-cured skate, halibut, herring, and 

 sprats, conveyed by special parliamentary rates, should ever 

 be available for a family with the lowest coin of the realm 

 at their disposal. 



WHAT is REQUIRED AND WHO SHOULD DO IT ? 



In the first place, as has been shown, railways. Where these 

 are present with the fish, all is serene, but the conveyance 

 must be the shortest possible route, in point of time, that 

 science can suggest and carry out. A gap of a few miles 

 cuts off the supply ; fast steamers may come down the 

 coast of England in less time than the locomotive, and 

 the same method may be adopted to carry the fish to a 

 western port in England, connected with either of the 

 great railway systems from any part of the east coast of 

 Ireland ; but the products of the western coasts of that 

 country, specially the north-west, must come across the 

 island. Here some would say, " Do you want the Govern- 



