IRISH FISHERIES. 193 



ever, if the Irish people generally had shown some 

 disposition to help their own fishermen in the manner 

 now being done by Parliament, but they have only 

 clamoured for Government assistance. 



The following paragraph appears in the Inspectors' 

 Report for 1874 : 



" We regret that the generous offer made by Mr. 

 Benjamin Whitworth, member for Kilkenny, to con- 

 tribute 2500Z. for the benefit of the fishermen, pro- 

 vided 750(M. was subscribed by the rest of Ireland, so 

 as to raise a fund of 10,OOOZ., has not met with a 

 single response, so that his intended liberality remains 

 unavailed of." 



I will now give a short sketch of such of the Irish 

 fisheries as appear to deserve notice. The most im- 

 portant ones are on the eastern and southern coasts, 

 and we may commence with those from Dublin Bay. 

 Dublin is the head-quarters of the deep-sea trawlers, 

 and possesses a fleet of about fifty smacks, ranging 

 from 30 to 50 tons, N.M., and usually working from 

 that station. Deep-sea trawlers were first used from 

 Dublin in 1818, some Brixham smacks having been 

 bought for that purpose. Brixham men also came 

 over, and in the course of time more vessels were 

 added to the fleet, as the fishing grounds became better 

 known, and the profitable character of the fishing was 

 established. The trawlers work all the year round 

 when they can get hands, but in the summer months, 

 the generally light weather is not favourable for trawl- 

 ing, and the men find more profitable occupation in the 

 herring fishery and on board the numerous yachts, 



o 



