40 NATURAL HISTOEY SOCIETY OF DUBLIN. 



The utility of trawling is again agitated, and most properly recom- 

 mended ; yet still in many parts of the coasts of Ireland it is viewed 

 with animosity by the fishermen. Galway being a position desirable 

 in every way for the encouragement and protection of such a system of 

 fishing, it has, notwithstanding, always met there the most determined 

 hostility of the Claddaghmen. JSTo sympathy can be entertained for the 

 lawless opposition they have always attempted. They are, however, a 

 poverty-stricken and improvident race ; and, being without means to 

 fit out boats of proper tonnage or suitable gear, they are envious of and 

 opposed to all superiority. Still they are to be pitied. Having no 

 means of livelihood but by the fish or the seaweed of their bay, and no 

 plot of ground but that upon which their cabins stand, their existence 

 must be but miserable, unless directed and assisted by some kind means. 

 The Society of which Mr. Andrews is a trustee would advance the 

 means of providing and fitting out boats, where recommendation and 

 security would be given. Surely no difficulty should arise to this for the 

 more industrious and well-disposed of the Claddagh men. The report of 

 the Commissioners, 1836, states that advances were made to the Clad- 

 daghmen by the Agricultural Bank, and that they were always repaid 

 with interest, and that such loans had effected much good. 



The President exhibited fertile specimens of two cryptogamic plants 

 rarely found in fruit — one, a moss exceedingly rare, ITookeria l<&- 

 tevirens — from Sullivan's Cascade, Killarney ; the other a Junger- 

 mannia — J. Hibernica (Hooker), which occurs in damp sandy places be- 

 tween Malahide and Portrane, but very rare in fruit. 



Pursuant to notice given at last General Meeting by Dr. J. Barker, 

 it was 



Eesolved, — That the following additions be made to Eule 7 : — 



"In voting for a Candidate a mark must be made opposite the name, 

 and in voting against, a line must be drawn through the name ; on 

 such Balloting Paper a name unmarked counting as no vote." 



Henry Wilson, Esq., E. E. C. S. I., 29, Lower Baggot-street ; and 

 J.Brown, Esq., Molesworth- street, were elected Ordinary Members of 

 the Society. 



The meeting then adjourned. 



THURDSAY, MAY 3, 18G6. 

 David Moore, Ph. D., E. L. S., President, in the Chair. 



The minutes of the two preceding meetings were read, and those of 

 the March meeting were signed. 



Dr. E. Perceval Wright exhibited a very beautiful specimen of a 

 rare and large-sized Owl — Scotopelia peli, Bp., and made the following 

 remarks thereon : — 



