Royal Commission of inquiry into the state of the Irish Fisheries: first report

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168


MINUTES OF EVIDENCE.


Regulations.


Condition of the
Fishermen,.


Benefit Societies
and Loan Funds.


ing, Soles, Mullet, &c., were caught in their nets, and not restored to liberty again, by re¬
leasing them from the net in the water ; of course it is not. meant that such should be re¬
leased if taken with a quantity of other fish, but it is almost always the case, when these
fish (Cod particularly) are taken, there are few if any other fish amongst them. In every
instance I ever witnessed a take of young Cod in any quantity, there were neither Sprats or
Herrings among them, or any other fish except perhaps a few. I am perfectly convinced
that taking those fish when very small, particularly Cod, is as injurious to the Cod fishery
of the coast, as the taking of Salmon fry is to the Salmon fishery. I have seen millions of
young Cod taken in sean-nets, (which in some cases I consider a very destructive net,) that
afforded little or no profit to owner or fishermen, but tended to injure the fishery, and I
invite the particular attention of the Commissioners to this fact.


If the Commissioners be satisfied from the various reports before them, that trawling in
bays and near headlands be injurious at some seasons, (which is my opinion) such practice
should be prohibited. Where penalties are necessary, they should be inflicted in the most
summary manner before one justice of the peace, collector, or other proper oflicer.


By the 59th Geo. III., chap. 109, (if still in force) catching Skad and Mackerel is fine-
able, see sec. 14. This section wants revision very much ; one part of this section provides
that Sprats may be taken. Another part prohibits the use of the net they are taken with..
The use of a sean-net in the day time for taking Herrings is prohibited by sec. 16, this ought
to be altered, so ought sec. 15, which prohibits shooting long lines in places forbidden. A
long line may be shot at any time—(Mr. H. E. Roderick.)


The hookermen are, generally speaking, idle when ashore. The class of persons employed
in the fishery, not hookermen, when the fish is not in-shore, employ themselves as labourers.
The mungi'el fishermen scattered along the coast are half fishermen and half farmers. The
circumstances just now of the greater part of each class are bad, worse than tradesmen.
Ardent spirits are injurious to them when they indulge too freely.


Hookermen are \vith a very few exceptions wholly employed in the capacity of fishermen.^
They very seldom are engaged in other avocations. The mungrel fishermen along the coast,
half farmer and half fishermen, are frequently engaged in other avocations. The combination
of pursuits, as things are at present, cannot be injurious to the fisheries, and is beneficial to
the mungrel fishermen who sometimes fish and sometimes attend to their spot of land..
Under proper encouragement, I think a combination of pursuits would be injurious.


The fisherman with a spot of land is better off than the fisherman without land, except
imder some circumstances.


Fishermen that have no land when not engaged in fishing, have little or no employment.
Want of capital and other circumstances prevent their employing their time to advantage^
Their families for the same reason, and not from choice, are idle. Under judicious ar¬
rangements, and a fostering Government, things would be very different.


The hookermen are at sea whenever the weather permits, and they cannot procure bait. I
think fishermen maybe emploj'ed actively if they were supplied with each kind of fishing gear,
for nine months in the year or more.


Comparing the situation of the fishermen in towns with those scattered along the coast,,
I would incline to the opinion that congregating them in towns would not improve their
condition in any considerable degree.


When disabled fishermen have resources, they lean on them; but, owing to want of en-
couragement,^ few have them, compared to the many without. Those who have no means
live in wretchedness, beg their potatoes, not bread, until death relieves them from their
misery and sufferings.


Widows support themselves by working or begging. Few, if any, are supported by shares
in the boats, because the shareholder must go with the boat and work. In cases of death,
the widows generally sell out. If they retain the shares, a fisherman goes in place of the
deceased, and contributes generally one penny in foui-, which is called boat-share; this
fourth penny, or rather one penny, out of every four, is divided amongst the shareholders.
A fourth is the regulation of some kinds of fishing, viz., in hookers. This proportion varies
in the different mcd.ffs of fishing. There are many families that have been left destitute,
and are starving {Mr. H. E. Hoderick^


There are no bo^iiefit societies in this district. I do believe some successful fishermen
occasionally deposit money in savings banks.


I believe the loan fund to have been productive of very great benefit. The loan fund of
the late Fishery Board did improve the condition of the fishermen in this district, whilst it
was continued, and will again, if established under proper regulations. In my opinion, a
fisherman should have nine months, at the least, to give him a fair opportunity of repaying
a loan—that is, under present circumstances. A well-regulated bounty upon fresh fish.
Cod, Ling, Hake, Haddock, Conger-eels and black Pollock, would encourage the Fish¬
eries, at least the offing fishery, more, in my opinion, than any other means, and work
more practical good than bounty to fish curers. The fishermen (which we apply to hooker¬
men) are the men to be rewarded and encouraged.


The fishermen have experienced difficulty in obtaining materials for their boats and fish¬
ing gear, since the extinction of the loan fund of the late Fishery Board. They are obliged
to obtain credit, wherever it will be granted to them, for materials, at a high price, con¬
sidering the quality of the articles they get (Mr. H. E. Roderick.)


The hookermen generally employed as pilots in stormy weather. Pilotage establishments
at proper places wanting on this (district) coast.


We have no harbour lights in this district, but such are wanted in particular situations,,
which, if necessary, can be pointed out; or say, one at Helwick Head, near Dungarvan