CHRONOLOGICAL HISTOllY OF THE HERRING- FISHERY. 331 



those who would wish to see trawling abolished, of course 

 we cannot say. His Excellency the Lord Lieutenant con- 

 sidered it right to offer a reward for the conviction of the 

 perpetrators of the outrage. We refer to Mr Brady's report 

 on this subject." 



The inspector, Mr Brady, enters more fully into par- 

 ticulars, and we think his remarks as to the state of 

 matters at Galway worth recording : — 



ON TRAWLING IN GALWAY BAY. 



" A very great amount of excitement prevails amongst 

 the Claddagh people, in reference to this mode of fish- 

 ing, which they say is not only injurious, but has destroyed 

 the fisheries of the bay. Whatever be the cause, I be- 

 lieve, from the evidence I received, both in the Court- 

 house and in the Claddagh, that these people are in a 

 sad state of destitution. The Claddagh people, I am in- 

 formed, number at present over 3000 souls, depending 

 exclusively on fishing, and having no other mode of 

 livelihood ; and therefore I submit, that it is an import- 

 ant matter, not only for the peace of the country, but for 

 the benefit of the fisheries, that the Board should be in 

 possession of some facts concerning this mode of fishing, 

 which cannot possibly be ascertained at public meetings. 

 The disputes in reference to trawling in Galway Bay are 

 going on now since 1839, when it was then urged that 

 all trawling should be prohibited inside a line drawn 

 from Blackhead to Spiddle. And on the late investiga- 

 tions the Board will observe, on reference to the evidence, 

 a new feature presented itself, viz., that the greatest 

 quantity of unsizeable fish, and the brood offish, is taken 

 between a line drawn from a place called Ballyrean, 



