282 THE RELATIONS OF THE STATE WITH 



bestow." (29 Geo. II. c. 23; 2 Geo. III. c. 15; 11 Geo. III. 

 c. 31; 26 Geo. III. c. 8 1, et passim.) 



In the reigns of George I. and George III., and many 

 years previous to 1 847, Trustees for improving the Hempen 

 Manufacture and for encouraging Fisheries, chiefly in Scot- 

 land, had been appointed, whilst money also had been 

 granted for promoting fisheries and manufactures. The 

 connection between fisheries and hemp by reason of the 

 use of twine for nets is obvious, and although the legisla- 

 tion of 1847 ( I0 & ll Viet. c. 91) only affected Scotland 

 when it appointed additional trustees and Herring Fishery 

 Commissioners, it is worthy of note as once more con- 

 firming the general principle that the Fishing Industry is in 

 itself of the nature of a large national industry, and as such 

 deserving of State recognition and encouragement. The 

 connection between hemp and nets is not so frequent as it 

 was formerly. The majority of nets are now manufactured 

 of cotton ; this material, although less durable than hemp, 

 is of lighter weight, and it therefore renders the nets more 

 readily managed, whilst a less number of corks and bungs 

 is sufficient to float them. Again in 1866 (by 29 & 30 

 Viet. c. 72), and in 1867 (30 & 31 Viet. c. 32) the 

 commissioners of Her Majesty's Treasury were further 

 authorised to grant loans out of the Consolidated Funds for 

 carrying on sea fisheries, provided that the whole grant for 

 these and other industries and manufactures did not exceed 

 300,000 in one year. 



So early as 1824, when (by 5 Geo. IV. c. 64) provisions 

 were made for the alteration and ultimate abolition of 

 fishery bounties, the principle was legislatively acknow- 

 ledged that it is occasionally expedient to pecuniarily assist 

 the poorest class of fishermen, who, from the absence of 

 capital with which to repair even the smallest loss, are 



