IRISH WHITE FISHERIES. 215 



from personal knowledge, but the latest report of the Irish fishery 

 inspectors contains some interesting information on the subject 

 ■which I have abridged for the benefit of my readers. I glean 

 from it that the Irish fisheries are at present in a somewhat 

 sensational position, and have of late attracted more than usual 

 attention. The reason of this is their rapid decline — a decline 

 which dates from the beginning of the Irish famine in 1846. 

 At that period nearly 20,000 boats or other vessels of various 

 sizes were engaged in the Irish fisheries, manned by over 100,000 

 men and boys. Last year [1872] the number of vessels and 

 boats was under 8000, and the men and boys taking part in the 

 fisheries numbered a little over 31,000, being a decrease as 

 compared with the previous year [1871] of, in round numbers 

 1000 boats and 7000 men. 



Statistics of the Irish sea fisheries are annually collected by 

 members of the Coastguard, who fill up schedules supplied by 

 the inspectors, which seem one year with another to be consistent 

 and reliable; but in addition to the matter collected by the 

 Coastguardsmen, much interesting information about the Irish 

 fisheries and the decline of co-operative fishing has been inter- 

 polated by the inspectors, who, in one paragraph of their present 

 report, confirm to some extent an opinion which is held by some 

 earnest inquirers, to the effect that in Ireland, as in Scotland 

 and England, the fishermen find it necessary to go farther afield 

 for their supplies, there being a considerable falling-off in the 

 productiveness of the inshore fisheries compared with the quan- 

 tities of fish obtained about thirty years ago. In consequence 

 of this many fishers with imperfect or weak fishing gear have 

 been obliged to give up fishing, not daring to venture to sea with 

 old patched-up boats and ragged netting imperfectly protected 

 from the action of the waves because of a deficient supply of 

 catechu with which to dye or " bark " their nets and sails. 



Other two of the numerous fishing companies started in Ire- 

 land were last year compelled to haul down their flag ; these 

 were the " South of Ireland Fishing Company," which for some 

 years carried on operations at Kinsale so far as its chief business 

 was concerned, but which lately engaged in the herring fishery 

 prosecuted off Howth; and the smaU "Limited" company 

 known as the " Inishbofin Fishing Company." There is now, 

 properly speaking, no joint-stock fishing company in Ireland. 

 The boats and gear of the South of Ireland Company were pur- 

 chased by two or three private individuals, and other undertak- 



