276 CHRONOLOGICAL HISTORY OF THE HERRING-FISHERY. 



of insubordination, the result of prejudices, which ipve- 

 vails. Happily it is the only part of Ireland in which 

 there have been any disorderly proceedings ; and out of 

 forty district returns, there are but two in which the 

 fishermen are not represented to be ' orderly, quiet, and 

 ' peaceable, neither quarrelling among themselves, nor 

 ' molesting strangers.' 



" In the first case, it has been stated that the unfor- 

 tunate and progressively declining community at the 

 Claddagh can alone be charged with a habitual spirit of 

 insubordination. The other case is more to be wondered 

 at, because it is in the immediate vicinity of the metro- 

 polis. We greatly regret to state, tliat during the last 

 season several aggressions have been committed upon the 

 boats and nets of the Cornish fishermen, both at Howth 

 and Kingstown. Active measures were adopted by the 

 coast-guards and constabulary, and every aid was afforded 

 by the local magistracy to discover the offenders. A large 

 reward was offered by the gentry and by the Board of 

 Public Works, as Commissioners of Kingstown Harbour, 

 for the discovery of the offenders, and we are especially 

 indebted to Captain Symonds, the late Inspecting Com- 

 mander, for his active assistance ; but all was in vain, the 

 offences were committed at night, and no discovery has 

 been made. But, though fruitless, we must say, every 

 exertion towards the discovery of the offenders was made 

 by the harbour-master of Howth, who has uniformly ren- 

 dered great service to the fishery, in the regulation and 

 preservation of order in that harbour, now become decid- 

 edly the most important fishery station on the coast of 

 Ireland. That most exemplary body of men, the crews 

 of the Cornish fleet, are very easily managed ; but when 

 upwards of 200 sail of vessels are assembled, and the 



