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of 30；000L。 In 1673； Sir W。 Temple； in a letter to Lord Essex；
says that 〃the fishing of Ireland might prove a mine under water
as rich as any under ground。〃＇9＇
The coasts of Ireland abound in all the kinds of fish in common
usecod； ling； haddock； hake； mackerel； herring； whiting；
conger； turbot； brill； bream； soles； plaice； dories； and salmon。
The banks off the coast of Galway are frequented by myriads of
excellent fish； yet； of the small quantity caught； the bulk is
taken in the immediate neighbourhood of the shores。 Galway bay
is said to be the finest fishing ground in the world； but the
fish cannot be expected to come on shore unsought： they must be
found； followed； and netted。 The fishing…boats from the west of
Scotland are very successful； and they often return the fish to
Ireland； cured； which had been taken out of the Irish bays。 〃I
tested this fact in Galway；〃 says Mr。 S。 C。 Hall。 〃I had ordered
fish for dinner； two salt haddocks were brought to me。 On
inquiry； I ascertained where they were bought； and learned from
the seller that he was the agent of a Scotch firm； whose boats
were at that time loading in the bay。〃＇10＇ But although Scotland
imports some 80；000 barrels of cured herrings annually into
Ireland； that is not enough； for we find that there is a regular
importation of cured herrings； cod； ling； and hake； from
Newfoundland and Nova Scotia； towards the food of the Irish
people。＇11＇
The fishing village of Claddagh； at Galway； is more decaying than
ever。 It seems to have suffered from a bombardment； like the
rest of the town。 The houses of the fishermen； when they fall
in； are left in ruins。 While the French； and English； and Scotch
boats leave the coast laden with fish； the Claddagh men remain
empty…handed。 They will only fish on 〃lucky days；〃 so that the
Galway market is often destitute of fish； while the Claddagh
people are starving。 On one occasion an English company was
formed for the purpose of fishing and curing fish at Galway； as
is now done at Yarmouth； Grimsby； Fraserburgh； Wick； and other
places。 Operations were commenced； but so soon as the English
fishermen put to sea in their boats； the Claddagh men fell upon
them； and they were glad to escape with their lives。＇12＇
Unfortunately； the Claddagh men have no organization； no fixed
rules； no settled determination to work； unless when pressed by
necessity。 The appearance of the men and of their cabins show
that they are greatly in want of capital； and fishing cannot be
successfully performed without a sufficiency of this industrial
element。
Illustrations of this neglected industry might be given to any
extent。 Herring fishing； cod fishing； and pilchard fishing； are
alike untouched。 The Irish have a strong prejudice against the
pilchard； they believe it to be an unlucky fish； and that it will
rot the net that takes it。 The Cornishmen do not think so； for
they find the pilchard fishing to be a source of great wealth。
The pilchards strike upon the Irish coast first before they reach
Cornwall。 When Mr。 Brady； Inspector of Irish Fisheries； visited
St。 Ives a few years ago； he saw captured； in one seine alone；
nearly ten thousand pounds of this fish。
Not long since； according to a northern local paper；＇13＇ a large
fleet of vessels in full sail was seen from the west coast of
Donegal； evidently making for the shore。 Many surmises were made
about the unusual sight。 Some thought it was the Fenians； others
the Home Rulers； others the Irish…American Dynamiters。 Nothing
of the kind！ It was only a fleet of Scotch smacks； sixty…four in
number； fishing for herring between Torry Island and Horn Head。
The Irish might say to the Scotch fishermen； in the words of the
Morayshire legend； 〃Rejoice； O my brethren； in the gifts of the
sea； for they enrich you without making any one else the poorer！〃
But while the Irish are overlooking their treasure of herring；
the Scotch are carefully cultivating it。 The Irish fleet of
fishing…boats fell off from 27；142 in 1823 to 7181 in 1878； and
in 1882 they were still further reduced to 6089。＇14＇ Yet Ireland
has a coast…line of fishing ground of nearly three thousand miles
in extent。
The bights and bays on the west coast of Irelandoff Erris；
Mayo； Connemara； and Donegalswarm with fish。 Near Achill Bay；
2000 mackerel were lately taken at a single haul； and Clew Bay is
often alive with fish。 In Scull Bay and Crookhaven； near Cape
Clear； they are so plentiful that the peasants often knock them
on the head with oars； but will not take the trouble to net them。
These swarms of fish might be a source of permanent wealth。 A
gentleman of Cork one day borrowed a common rod and line from a
Cornish miner in his employment； and caught fifty…seven mackerel
from the jetty in Scull Bay before breakfast。 Each of these
mackerel was worth twopence in Cork market； thirty miles off。
Yet the people round about； many of whom were short of food； were
doing nothing to catch them； but expecting Providence to supply
their wants。 Providence； however； always likes to be helped。
Some people forget that the Giver of all good gifts requires us
to seek for them by industry； prudence； and perseverance。＇15＇
Some cry for more loans； some cry for more harbours。 It would be
well to help with suitable harbours； but the system of dependence
upon Government loans is pernicious。 The Irish ought to feel
that the very best help must come from themselves。 This is the
best method for teaching independence。 Look at the little Isle
of Man。 The fishermen there never ask for loans。 They look to
their nets and their boats； they sail for Ireland； catch the
fish； and sell them to the Irish people。 With them； industry
brings capital； and forms the fertile seed…gronnd of further
increase of boats and nets。 Surely what is done by the Manxmen；
the Cornishmen； and the Cockenziemen； might be done by the
Irishmen。 The difficulty is not to be got over by lamenting
about it； or by staring at it； but by grappling with it； and
overcoming it。 It is deeds； not words； that are wanted。
Employment for the mass of the people must spring from the people
themselves。 Provided there is security for life and property；
and an absence of intimidation； we believe that capital will
become invested in the fishing industry of Ireland； and that the
result will be peace； food； and prosperity。
We must remember that it is only of comparatively late years that
England and Scotland have devoted so much attention to the
fishery of the seas surrounding our island。 In this fact there
is consolation and hope for Ireland。 At the beginning of the
seventeenth century Sir Waiter Raleigh laid before the King his
observations concerning the trade and commerce of England； in
which he showed that the Dutch were almost monopolising the
fishing trade； and consequently adding to their shipping；
commerce； and wealth。 〃Surely；〃