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ment to take upon themselves all the work connected with 

 the development of the Irish Fisheries ? " Certainly not ; 

 I wish to see Imperial interference reduced to the minimum 

 of necessity -, and that point in relation to this question I 

 proceed to enunciate. Recent legislation (whether wrong 

 or right is not the question here) has operated to extinguish 

 individual exertion towards promoting local railways ; 

 and as the development of the fisheries combines a two- 

 fold imperial benefit in the interests of the producer and 

 consumer, it is the duty of the Government to go so far in 

 assistance on this head as to bring the construction of fish- 

 bearing lines under the influence of practical enterprise, by 

 advancing money at a low rate of interest, up to such 

 an amount as they may be advised the undertaking will 

 secure, and advances should be freely made, where the in- 

 spectors deem it absolutely necessary, to construct small piers 

 and harbours for the safety of the boats. Then, again, it is 

 the absolute duty of our Government to take the initiative in 

 popularising and promoting the question of the development 

 of the Irish inland fisheries by following the example of the 

 United States in initiating the acclimatisation of fish and their 

 artificial propagation ; and I would here allay all dread of 

 extravagant State outlay by stating, on the authority of Mr. 

 Earll, that his Department collected and hatched 500,000,000 

 white fish at one station for 300. He also informs me that 

 he is quite sure the expense of breeding carp for distribution 

 throughout Ireland would not exceed a few hundred pounds. 

 Two sets of ponds of less than 3 acres in area sufficed to 

 plant carp in 17,860 localities in less than 3 years. It must 

 be borne in mind that the aim should be the providing a 

 poor man's fish, altogether ignoring the question of sport. 

 This has been considered their duty by the American 

 authorities ; and, as Mr. Earll tells me, the result of the 



