The Sun.
London, England, 1862-05-29 00:00:00

NEW MEMBER.

Colonel WHITE here took the oaths and his seat for the
borough of Kidderminster, in room of Mr. Bristow, who
has accepted the office of Secretary to the Admiralty. The
hon. member was introduced by Mr. Brand and Mr.
Beamish.

Lord FERMOY then resumed the debate on the Irish
Fisheries Bill, stating that he considered a bill on so im-
portant a measure as this ought not to be left in the charge
of a private member, but should be taken up by the Go-
vernment. The consequence of the executive Govern-
ment not doing so was, that the time of the house
was taken up with discussions which resulted in nothing,
while the Government, instead of helping on and forward-
ing measures for the good of Ireland, prevented and ob-
structed such measures from being carried out. He thought
the hon. and learned gentleman was wrong in bringing up
the deep sea fisheries and the salmon fisheries in one bill,
and he thought, moreover, that Irishmen were too apt to
depend on legislation for the development of the resources
of their country. He would rather have them rely on
the maxim that heaven helped them that helped them-
selves ; and the Bay of Dublin being at present
fished by Cornish fishermen, who made a good
living by doing so, afforded a moral which he hoped
his countrymen would see the meaning of, which was, that
were they to show the same industry and perseverance they
could do the same, and there would be no necessity for
having recourse to Cornish men to fish the Bay of Dublin.
He did not admit that the system of stake cranes and bag
nets had been the means of diminishing the quantity of
fish caught in Ireland, as he found, from returns which he
had procured from the London fish market, that while up
to the month of May in the year 1861 the quantity of
salmon brought into the London market from Ire-
land was 3,647 boxes, the quantity brought into the
same market up to the month of May in the present
year was 5,783 boxes, being an increase of nearly
30 per cent. He, however, protested against a measure of
this nature being in the hands of a private member, and he
should move as an amendment that it be be read a second
time that day six months.

VANDELEUR also opposed the measure, contend-
ing that the system of stake wires and bag nets had the
effect of deteriorating the fisheries. He understood that
both in the Lower and Upper Shannon the fish had very
much increased. As to the deep sea fisheries, he believed
the deterioration in the fishery had not taken place in con-
sequence of Acts of Parliament, but in consequence of the
fish changing their haunts.
Sir E. GROGAN considered the matter too large and
serious to be left in the hands of a a private member, while
it was moreover impossible to give it proper consideration
at this period of the session. He at once agreed with the
hon. and learned gentleman who had charge of this bill,
that there Ni as in the sea around the coast of Ireland a mine
of wealth, which would afford employment and food for a
large portion of the population of that country, provided it
was properly worked ; but how it could be so required much
inquiry, and the best way for obtaining information he con-
ceived would be to refer this bill to a select committee. If
that was done, and if it was seen that they could not pass
a general meausure on the subject during the present year,
a measure of a limited character might be passed, obviating
the most prominent evils which might be found to exist in
the present system.
Sir R. PEEL said he was rather inclined to approve of
the proposition to refer the measure to a select committee
than to adopt the amendment of the noble lord the member
for Marylebone. The question was a most important one,
and he thanked the hon. and learned member for Wexford
for introducing it to the house. He had had innumerable
communications from Ireland on the subject, and all of
them complaining of the stake nets and bag nets, and
which he believed himself to be a deteriorating cause of the
failure of the fisheries. He understood that in the Shannon
there was 135 fixed engines doing an immense injury, and
which prevented fish passing up and fructifying and mul-
tiplying es they could wish them to do. He had been in
cummunication with:the Fishery Commissioners and the
Solicitor-General on the subject, all of whom state that
the measure was capable of being made a good bill, and
that it ought to receive the assent of the Government.
(Hear, hear.) That being so he thought they should read
the bill a second time in order to refer it to a select com•
mittee, when he had no doubt they would be able to frame
the measure so as to meet the exigencies of the case and be
beneficial to Ireland. (Hear, hear.)
it wMoru.ldGbEeOtßheGmEeasnupspooirrtaeidsinthgetameefiassuhreeriesanind
Ireland
deretdo
that state of prosperity which they ought to assume.
Mr. CALCUTT considered that the right hon. baronet
the Secretary for Ireland ought not to have been so hard
upon stake nets, as Government
fords on one of the Irish rivers,
hwadhetrheemtheeelyvehsal
de a seerde
et
twe
do
stake nets. On the understanding, however, that the mea-
sure would be referred to a select committee he should sup-
port the second reading.
Mr. LONGFIELD contended that the act of Parliament
regulating the Irish fisheries did not authorise the erection
of those fixed engines which had destroyed the Irish fishe-
ries,
and quoted the opinions of the late Baron Pennefather
and other judges to that effect. He was connected himself
with the River Blackwater, in the county
could state that that river—one of the finest in Ireland,
they
hiveaa ueyt asift
passedihermeticallynga a
measure
search-
ing
on
the havingq H. o ualmon in consequence of these e
uaircywr
as es
HERBERTofs
necessaryome de
c o7nOsmi
before ilreesd
h
the subject, and were this measure read a second time, and
sent to a select, committee, an opportunity would be afforded
fo
found it stated that thehen fisherieseces necessity of such in
ciur hemiryang,kwihileth inquiryat
To show
Shan-
non are gone to ruin, he found the conservators of she fishe-
riesi on the
at Limerick stating, in reply
ttoe fiaqsuheerfr
es had improvedputtothemby
the Fishery Commissioners, that the and that the prospect of turther improvement was very
Food. That staggered him, and without a proper inquiry
into the matter, it was impossible to get at the truth one
way or other. He did not hesitate to state, at the same
time, that the restrictions imposed by the act of 1842 had
deteriorated tha fisheries ; yet inquiry was absolutely ne-
cessary on the subject, and he hoped the measure would be
sent to a select committee for that purpose.
Mr. WHITESIDE also agreed that the measure should
be read a second time and sent to a select committee, but he
did not think that their doing so was an implication that the
Government should take up the measure, as he thought that
any of the Irish members conversant with the subject
should do so themselves.

Mr. MONSELL considered that as they had the state-
ment upon legal authority that the fixed engines in the
Shannon, and other Irish rivers, were not authorised by the
act of Parliament, he thought there could be little doubt as
to the necessity of a -measure on the subject. He thought,
therefore, that much good would result from the inquiry as
regarded that point, and he confessed that he had himself
grave doubts upon the point.
Mr. BRADY supported the measure, and hoped, from
the unsatisfactory state of the law at present, that it would
be speedily brought into operation.
Mr. V, SCULLY said there were no less than 14 Go-
vernment bills relating to Ireland, and 15 introduced by
Irish members, now before the house, and he thought,
therefore, that the right hon. baronet the Secretary for
Ireland was not liable to the charge of neglecting legida.