332 CHRONOLOGICAL HISTORY OF THE HERRING-FISHERY. 



about five or six miles outside Blackhead, to Tully Castle 

 on the north, and the two points Blackhead and Spiddle, 

 or about five or six miles outside the line originally pro- 

 posed in 1839 ; and that the greatest injury was done by 

 the trawlers on this ground. It would appear as if a 

 belt of sand lay across the bay in this place, on which 

 the young fish rest. No evidence was produced, on the 

 part of the trawlers, to show whether this was the case or 

 not, as they did not appear in Court ; because, as was 

 mentioned, that their presence might raise the passions 

 of the Claddagh people to such a pitch that they could 

 not be restrained, and that a breach of the peace would 

 ensue. This was sworn to by declarations handed in by 

 the professional men employed on the part of the trawlers. 

 This fear I believe not to be exaggerated, notwithstand- 

 ing the evidence which had been produced to prove the 

 good conduct of the Claddagh people, and their general 

 observance of the laws. The consequence of this intimi- 

 dation is, that the Board have only a one-sided testimony 

 on which to judge. It is but justice, however, to state, 

 that although a great excitement prevailed, the Claddagh 

 people, who mustered in great numbers in the Court- 

 house, behaved orderly and peaceably ; and several magis- 

 trates came forward to give evidence as to their general 

 good conduct and observance of the laws. Amongst the 

 rest, the resident magistrate stated he had not known an 

 instance of impropriety amongst them. In 1839, so much 

 excitement prevailed on this subject, that it was judged 

 expedient by His Excellency the Lord-Lieutenant to have 

 a war-vessel to protect people employed in trawling on 

 this coast and that of the county Donegal ; and soon 

 after the passing of the 5th and 6th Vict., cap. 106, in 

 1842, the Board, after inquiry, made a by-law prohibiting 



