THE SEA-FISHERIES OF IRELAND 129 



(at Kinsale, for about thirteen weeks) to 2S. 6d. 

 per week (at Queenstown, for fourteen weeks) .^ 



Now contrast these figures with those for 

 the west coast of England and Wales.^ The 

 Board of Trade statement gives the total value 

 of the fish landed on that coast as ^772,245 ; 

 of this amount, ^^299,2 8 8 represents the value 

 of the fish landed at one English port (Milford) 

 alone, a figure which is not far short of that 

 representing the value of the whole of the Irish 

 industry. There is no question here of un- 

 favourable natural conditions so far as Ireland 

 is concerned. The seas off the west and south 

 coasts of the latter country have been described 

 as a " mine of wealth," and though this estimate 

 of their value is perhaps to be discounted, it is 

 no doubt the case that these areas are capable of 

 an enormously greater exploitation than they at 

 present undergo. Fleetwood trawlers have, in fact, 

 within the last few years exploited the Blaskets 

 fishing grounds, off County Kerry. All the causes 

 contributing to the depression of the industry are 

 economic ones : the inaladministration of the 

 early part of the century ; the unfortunate with- 

 drawal of the bounties ; the positive discourage- 

 ment due to English or Scottish jealousy ; the 

 famine and resulting emigration, and the further 



1 Report on the Sea and Inland Fisheries of Ireland for 1901. 

 Appendix No. 9, p. 46. 



2 Statistical Tables and Memorandum, 1901, p. 27. 



9 



