278 CHRONOLOGICAL HISTORY OF THE HERRING-FISHERY. 



' to receive evidence as to altering the limit at present 

 ' defining the trawling ground at Galway/ 



" Having been prevented by an unusual pressure of 

 business in the office from immediately undertaking this 

 important mission, I determined to occupy the time in 

 making such preliminary arrangements as should facilitate 

 my inquiries ; and I have to express my best thanks to 

 the Collector of Customs in Dublin, and to the Inspecting 

 Commander of Coast-guards of the district, for their kind 

 co-operation in furnishing me with valuable introductions 

 to Exeter, Torquay, Brixham, and Dartmouth. 



" My next course was to communicate with some of 

 the fishermen of Galway, and with some respectable per- 

 sons there, interested in their behalf, informing them of 

 my intended visit to the coast of Devon, and soliciting 

 their aid in inducing the fishermen of the Claddagh to 

 select some intelligent person of their own body to ac- 

 company me, and to be present at the several investi- 

 gations wdiich I proposed to make, so as to be able to 

 authenticate any statements which I should be enabled 

 to make in reference to the practice and regulations ob- 

 served by a community so prosperous as the fishermen on 

 that coast. With this object, I visited Galway twice 

 within the month of September, and finally obtained from 

 one of the gentlemen who undertook to negociate the 

 matter with the fishermen, a letter bearing date the 23d 

 September, conveying a direct negative to the proposition. 

 I subjoin a copy of Mr Wade's communication : — 



" ' Galway, September 23, 1852. 



" ' My dear Sir, — According to your wish, I went into 

 ' the Claddagh village, and spoke to two men of intelli- 

 ' gence and substance, and, as I considered, men who 



