J.
170 MINUTES 0E EVIDENCE TAKEN BEFORE John Darcy Esq.
could not be more advantageously employed, and the result of a commission
be to satisfy the Government and public of that fact.
woul(i i Tune 1835.
2005.
Are not a considerable number already employed in that district in ik
fisheries ?—They
are occasionally employed, but being farmers as veil as fisherm nothing is properly attended to.
^
en' 2006.
What sort of boats are they ?—The
boats for the herring fishery are above 15 or 16 feet keel, and there are a very few small sailing boats of about f^ or five tons.
2007.
Do they cure any fish for export ?—They
do, a quantity of herrings.
2008.
For fresh fish, is not Galway the only market?—Galway,
Clifden and West Port.
2009.
Is there not a fishing bank not far from thc coast of Connemara ?-
There are considerable fishing banks about ten leagues to the west of Sline Head and Achil Head.
2010.
Are the fishermen with their boats able to reach that bank ?—Very
seldom 2on.
Has any capital been subscribed for forming an establishment for can-vine on the fishery along the coast ?—No.
2012.
To what circumstance do you attribute the capital not having taken that direction?—The
country and the capabilities have been heretofore unknown-except that, I do not know any other.
2013.
When you first went to reside in that country, how many houses were there in the village of Clifden ?—Only
one.
2014.
How many are there now ?—Upwards
of 300.
2015.
How many years ago is it since you went there?—Twenty
years aao, in the year 1815.
2016.
Was there any revenue receivable from Clifden or its neighbourhood at that time?—Not
a shilling.
2017.
Can you state the amount of revenue received last year?—Upwards
of 7,000/.
2018.
Does illicit distillation still prevail in Connemara?—It
does not; there is a party of revenue police who are very active to prevent it.
2019.
Are they sufficient to put it down?—They
are.
2020.
Previous to the formation of roads, was there much illicit distillation at Connemara ?—There
was a great deal.
2021.
If the country was more open by roads, would it be necessary to keep up so large a police for the purpose of suppressing illicit distillation?
—It would not.
2022.
Can you state to the Committee the expense of the police forcer— I cannot.
2023.
Have you any suggestions to make to the Committee respecting the improvement of that part of the country ?—I
should recommend that a sufficient number of civil engineers should be employed by the present Board of Works in Ireland, to enable them to superintend the making of the principal roads through the waste districts, to finish the quays and piers already begun, and to construct such others as are necessary for the encouragement of the fisheries on the western coast, the expense of which to be paid by a Parliamentary grant; and I would recommend, that the Board should have the power of advancing money to proprietors for the purpose of reclaiming waste lands, making roads, working quarries, on the security of the improved lands; these works to be laid out and executed under their direction.
I would also place the county surveyors under the control and direction of the Board of Works; allowing any advance of money to be secured on the land as the first charge.
2024.
Suppose a land company were formed, with the power to purchase wild districts, under the provision that the purchase money should be applied to the trusts of the estate under settlement, or the discharge of incumbrances; do you -think the proprietors of that district would be willing to lease for ever or to sell to such a company any considerable tract of land ?—I
really do not think they would, to any great extent.
„
2025.
To the extent of 10,000 acres ?—I
think 1,000 acres would be hardly worth a company's undertaking.
2026.
Would it be of great advantage to Connemara that a company P°sses^ capital should purchase considerable tracts ofland?—It
would be of great advan a^ to the country in general, and every proprietor in it, that money should be expen in improving any part of it.
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