THE SEA-FISHERIES OF IRELAND 119 



The catches of fish during the same period 

 show corresponding increases. In 18 19 the ex- 

 port of dried fish was 40 tons, and this rose to 3019 

 in 1829. Herrings in 1819 amounted to 1193 

 barrels, rising to 16,855 in 1829. Of the fishing 

 vessels registered in the latter year, there were : — 



218 decked vessels of an average tonnage of 28, 

 769 half-decked „ „ „ 12, 



2483 open sailing boats, and 



9522 rowing boats ; ^ 



figures which contrast very favourably with those for 

 1901. The fisheries were therefore in a very re- 

 spectable condition, and this in spite of the gross 

 abuses, the errors of management, and the flagrant 

 jobbery of the administration.^ It was, in fact, ac- 

 cording to Mr J. R. Barry (for long an Irish inspector 

 of fisheries), "a period of unexampled prosperity." 

 It can, of course, be argued that the develop- 

 ment of the fisheries during the period 18 19- 

 1829 was illusory, and depended entirely on the 

 payment of the bounties. This line of argu- 

 ment has, indeed, been adopted, both with regard 

 to the Irish and the Scottish bounty systems, 

 by those who are opposed on economical grounds 

 to the principle of protection. It is true, no 

 doubt, that the progress of the fishery depended 

 to some extent on the payment of the bounties ; 

 for, when the latter were reduced in 1824, the 



1 Report on the Coast and Deep-sea Fisheries of Ireland, 1870. 



2 Ibid., p. 9. 



