20 



2nd March I 



Mr. John Brown read a Paper on 



AN EXPERIMENTAL FISHING TRIP OFF THE 

 NORTH AND EAST COASTS OF IRELAND. 



Mr. Brown said that in 1882 he purchased a small steam vessel 

 for the purpose of trawling off the Irish coasts. He had tried 

 most of the trawling grounds along the coast from St. John's 

 Point to Innishowen Head, but without sufficient success on 

 the whole to warrant a continuation of the enterprise. Lough 

 Foyle and the banks outside it were perhaps the best places he 

 had tried. He referred to the decadence of fishing in Belfast 

 Lough, and believed it was due to the trawling on the upper 

 flats and banks in the lough, by which large quantities of small 

 fish were taken, which brought only a nominal price, and such 

 fish were prevented from attaining maturity in the lower portion 

 of the lough. He suggested that one or other of the scientific 

 societies of Belfast should take this matter up, obtain evidence 

 from the fishermen, and, if desirable, take steps to have the 

 upper part of the lough closed to trawlers. 



The paper was suitably illustrated with nets and other fishing 

 tackle suspended in the room. 



