^86 THE SEA FISHERIES 



next twenty years there was a steady diminution and in tR^r .1, 

 fishermen numbered 39.339 and the boatsTsT '^" 



froL Vr"""* development of the Irish fisheries may be said to date 

 n^l'^^^^T^ °^ '^' Agriculture and Technical InstucSn 

 tutt 1 ? ^ ' f^f n' ''''*•' '■ 5°)' ^°d the various Acts con S 

 TXl^:'^'^'^' ^''' ^^^ ^^^^-^ (54 and 55 Vict., 



The authorities thus created may claim great credit for the 

 resuscitation of the inshore fisheries of Ireland. It would be im- 

 possible to give m detail an account of the extremely valuable work 

 performed by these two organisations, but a short summary is 

 indispensable Under Section 16 (d) of the Agriculture and Technical 

 Instruction (Ireland) Act of 1899 a provision of ^10.000 is to be made 

 annually for the purpose of assisting the sea fisheries. In addition 

 there is a fund known as the " Sea and Coast Fisheries Fund " 

 the history of which is interesting. It is the residue of a sum 

 collected m 1822 for the relief of distress in Ireland, and was raised 

 by public subscription. 



This sum was vested in trustees known as the " Trustees to aid 

 Sea and Coast Fisheries of Ireland," being afterwards transferred 

 to the Commissioners of Public Works, who were authorised to make 

 fishery loans therefrom, to such persons and upon such security as 

 the Inspectors of Irish Fisheries should recommend. In 1891 this 

 was agam transferred by the Purchase of Land (Ireland) Act to 

 the Congested Districts Board, except £20,000, which was reserved 

 for non-congested districts. In 1899, by the Agriculture and 

 Technical Instruction (Ireland) Act, this sum of £20,000 — or what 

 is was then represented by in cash, investments and outstanding 

 loans — ^was placed at the disposal of the Department, and it is now 

 partly used for the purpose of making loans to fishermen and partly 

 for the furtherance of other objects in connection with the sea 

 fisheries. In the year ending 31st March, 1913, eighty-three appli- 

 cations for loans were favourably considered by the Department, 

 and a sum of £8,442 was granted for the purchase and repair of fishmg 

 boats and gear. This expenditure, which is under Section 15 (c) of 

 the Act, has been in the hands of the Department since the ist 

 April, 1900. The bad debts during this period of thirteen years 

 amount to less than I per cent of the total advances. Under Section 

 16 (g) of the same Act any surplus money may be appUed by the 

 Department for Agriculture, or rural industries, or sea fisheries ; 

 so that there are three separate sources from which funds are 

 available for the improvement of the fisheries of Ireland. 



In congested districts the fishery administration is in the hands 

 of the Congested Districts Board. 



