[ 221 ] 



XXYII. 



SURVEY OF FISHING GROUNDS, WEST COAST OF IRE- 

 LAND, 1890-1891. INTRODUCTORY NOTE BY PROF. A. C. 

 HADDON, M.A. (Cantab.), M.R.I. A. ; Professor of Zoology, Royal 

 College of Science, Dublin ; Naturalist to the Survey. 



It has long been felt that it was futile to discuss the problems of 

 the development of the Irish Fisheries without possessing accurate 

 information on the subject. No such knowledge was available. 

 From time to time during this century the Royal Dublin Society has 

 interested itself in Fishery matters, and during the last decade the 

 Council have several times seriously considered whether renewed 

 efforts should not be taken to attempt to treat the whole question 

 from a scientific standpoint. The final result of this renewed 

 interest is the Survey of the Fishery grounds on the West Coast 

 of Ireland, which has been carried on for the last two years under 

 the auspices of the Society. In Appendix E to the Eeport of the 

 Council of the Royal Dublin Society for 1890 will be found a brief 

 account of the history of the Survey, which has now drawn to 

 a close. 



Early in 1889 the Fishery Committee of the Royal Dublin 

 Society intrusted to me the organization of the Natural History 

 Department of the Survey, and after consultation with the Rev. 

 W. S. Green and others, I drew up a plan of operations, including 

 several books of schedules in which the scientific results were to be 

 recorded. These latter were largely based upon those used by the 

 Scotch Fishery Board. I also arranged for a complete equipment 

 of apparatus, books, and other requisites for a long dredging cruise. 

 In this matter the experience gained during over ten years' prac- 

 tical investigations in Marine Zoology, and from the organizing of 

 several dredging cruises, served me in good stead. 



SCIEN. PKOC. R.D.S., VOL. TIL, PAKT IT. U 



