The Irish republic. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1867-18??, 1868-03-28

such enthusiastic account imported
and esteemed that passed under Henry XIII
punish boamen for tapping the casks when conveying
them up the rivers The charms of the liquid which filled
the brain with fiery nmble and deectable shapes prov
ing irresistible to the unsophiscated boamen of the
Shannon. In early times there is good reason to con-
cude that the Irish fisheries esteemed far superior
tohose of either England Scotland and that they derived
their chief supplies from this island How vast source
of wealth fisheries afford is evidenced in Holland, where
they insignificant compared with those of Ireland
but from which Dewitt states the property of the Dutch
who boast that the foundation of their Amsterdam
layed fish bones" chiefly attributable. That good
fishing ground is valuable than the of land
under the productive crops is we'll known and it is not
long since that five vessels travelling extent of so
acres produced in single night II tons of fish, amount
of food equal to 80 cattle 800 sheep. The numerous
natural banks of oysters and the extent of shore adapted
their artificial culture in Ireland present immense prom
ise they worked up those of France have been
under less favorable circumstances In the latter country
par example, the Bed of Lahlon cost in its making together
with the purchase of boats TOOLS labor and oysters but
FL and from the gross sale of its produce realizes
ally profit of $780, while the rapdity with which the
value of the bencreases may be from that of Rene
doux which in 1860 yielded but e120 and produces
900 annually. The increase of value in breeding
oyster bed of in the Thames esuays calculated by
Mr. Barry four fold in four years. and Mr. Berram in
his work. Harvests of the Sea- states that the harvest
per annum and supports 5000 people This is but of
the English oyster fisheries and yet the demand far exceeds
the supply If Holland supports One-tth OF her
ton from her fisheries what might Ireland do ii ami
mated equally by public and private enterprise in this
So far however, from the piscatory of this island
being utilized with all these necessary results such
the manufacture of fish guano, OIL marine Salts &c. find
that the imports of fish into Ireland from foreign Brit
sh Possessions amounted in 1866 $685. previous
to the famine the money which left the country in the pur-
chase of fish half million per To make
this anomaly of ignorance the stranger Also it is familiar
fact that the vessels bringing such cagoe they approach
the Irish Coast often sail through shoals of the fish
which they have expended their money in other districts.
The northwestery position end peculiar of Ireland
suces account for historic celebrity of its fishing
In 1856 Phillip H., of Spain, paid FL 900 year
England to be allowed to fish in the North coast and the
Dutch paid Charles $4,000 for similar privilege until
Cromwell, having sent man-ofwar to demand why they
encroached waters within the English realm and finding
under charter of Charles drove them off with his
broadsdes The cessation of foreigners fishing the Irish
coast dates from 1893 Nothing in short is stranger than
the indifference the Irish people the perennial riches
afforded by their fisheries that their blindness the fact
before their eyes which induces them to import fish, when
they be the greatest exporters of the article Europe
The desire for cured fish, salt ling herring cod, among
people whose other chief food the poatoe is easily
destood but not the apathy which mpeded the formation
of curing establishments for themselves Since Indian meal
has become article of food, the consumption of cured
fish has declined under the idea that is wholesome
with any other food the potatoea easily compre
hended when consider the antscorbutc qualities of
latter
The Irish Parliament encouraged fisheries and so
the population engaged in them that during
the American the Legislature voted 10000 sailors
sist the English fleet After the union the fishing depart
ment transferred to the Custom House, and little aen
ton afterwards paid to it, The Board of Works have done
scarcely anything for the fishing interest," except contribute
ing moiy for its construction of piers and habos and by
them the recommendations made by the commissioners 1886
completely ignored When the famine, in 1861 came
there scarcely curing establishment in Ireland and the
people deserving Their occupations in Masses pawned and sold
their boats procure food During these three terrible
years Ireland lost forty millions worth of produce and at
period had thousand dependent the pub
i'll works for the daily support themselves and families
The restrictions awng under the idea that the practice
destroys the spawn but which is not enforced in England
Scotland has still further essened the fishing trade, al
practice not destructive supposed.
In order resuscitate the fishing interests of Ireland
many things requred-a survey discover fishing
grounds the construction of piers and harbor the extension
of curing establishments loans for encouraging the fisheries
the abolition of restrictive laws, &c. &C. Some idea of the
apathy existing in Government quarters respecting the i'm
provement of the fishing population may however be illus