FISHERMEN AND FISHERIES. 283 



unable to develope their industry. As a premium divisible 

 amongst those vessels which obtained the most bounty- 

 money, since 1808 (by 48 Geo. III. c. no) 3000 had been 

 annually awarded, and subsequently 5000 also had been 

 given as an additional annual bonus. The abolition of 

 bounties removed the object of these sums, and in 1824 they 

 were devoted, amongst other purposes, to building piers, and 

 providing materials for the repair of the boats of poor 

 fishermen on the Scotch and Irish coasts. On the 1st of 

 October, 1869, the control of the Irish deep-sea fisheries 

 became vested in the Lord Lieutenant, and in 1870 the 

 Royal Commissioners on Irish oyster fisheries reported on 

 the Irish deep-sea fisheries generally. In this Report it 

 is shown that the advances authorised in 1824, and other 

 similar appointed sums, were not utilised to their full 

 extent, and it was pointed out that on the west coast of 

 Ireland, at least, good results were likely to follow from 

 further loans. 



The change in 1824 from a policy of bounties to one 

 which aimed at providing capital is worthy of note. Bounty 

 money stimulated " owners," whilst it only indirectly bene- 

 fitted the fishing population upon whom boat-owners are 

 dependent. The policy which provides capital in deserving 

 cases goes further to the root of the matter. By increasing 

 competition it urges the industry towards perfection, whilst 

 by providing content and inducing prosperity amongst 

 the humbler classes it may, if judiciously applied, mate- 

 rially aid in developing the sea fishery into a national 

 and commercial undertaking, as opposed to one which is 

 commercial only, and in the hands of large capitalists. 



Whether either a policy of bounties or a policy of un- 

 earned capital can in the abstract in any case be a correct 



