2
124 MINUTES OF EVIDENCE.
extend from one to three acres, and are held at similar rents to those paid by other occu¬
piers of small farms, from £2 to £3 an acre (Mr. Maude^
Disabled fishermen on this coast are left to their own resources, to their relations, or beg¬
ging. Widows and children are left destitute {Lieut. White, R.N.)
On Doonbeg coast, the fishermen are not in so good a condition as agricultural labourers,
and are so poor that they are unable to use ardent spirits. Con-acre for potatoes is let un-
ploughed and unmanured, at from £4 to £5 an acre; and the farm rent of this land is from
£1 to £l lOs. an acre. The fishermen who occupy land are best oiF, but both classes have
miserable habitations—{Lieut. M''Nevin.)
On the Kilkee coast, the fishermen are moral and amenable, and as a body not injuriously
addicted to the use of ardent spirits. Those who have land sufficient to give their families
])otatoes, are better off than persons without land, who are obliged to take con-acre at a
high rent. The fishermen who have least land are unquestionably more frequently employed
in fishing. A fisherman without land may be rated as fishing during two-thirds of the sea¬
son in wliich fishing is practicable; and those who have four or five acres of land, may be
rated as being employed only during one-third of the season. Con-aci'e is generally taken
for two years. Upland ground is let without manure, at £6 an acre; and stubble land at
£4 4s. or £5. The land is but seldom ploughed; if it be manured there is seldom more
than one crop allowed, and for that one an advance of £l an acre is made in the rent. All
lands on this coast are let by the Irish acre. About one-half, or two-thirds more than the
rent of farms is charged for con-acre.—{Lieut. Pennefather.)
The Carrigaholt fishermen are moral, and, as a body, sober. Nearly all have land, either
small farms, or con-acre ; and those who have not any land seek employment as labourers
when they cannot fish, and their families beg about the country. They are not at present
more than four months employed in fishing; but under an encouraging system, and good re¬
gulations, they might be employed through the whole of the year—( The Rev. Mr. Duggan.)
Tlae Kilrush fishemien in general have a small portion of land, and their condition is
miserable {Mr. Peake^
The fishermen on the Clare coast are a very hardy and hard-working race of men, gene¬
rally speaking of sober habits. For many years, there was a considerable smuggling trade
in brandy, geneva, tobacco, &c.; and this trade being more profitable than the fishing,
the latter was almost totally neglected; but smuggling having been stopped, about 1823,
by the Coast Guard, the fishermen and shore population became miserably poor. They
had neglected the fisheries, were left without means to prosecute them; and, if it had not
been that about the same time the late Fishery Board was established, hundreds must
have famished. The measures of that Board considerably increased the fisheries, and the
fishermen were advancing gradually to a state of comparative comfort; but the pecuniary
aid which they thus obtained having been since withdrawn, they have again retrograded
into a state of miserable destitution—{Mr. Patterson.^
Loin Fuuds &:c. There are not any loan funds or benefit societies on the Malbay coast of Clare.
The effect produced by the loan fund of the late Fishery Board, was an improvement in
the condition of those who obtained loans. Since the extinction of the fund, they have
found difficulty in procuring materials for either boats or gear, as they cannot obtain them
on credit.
Grants would be necessary, to enable them to obtain better boats and gear (Lieut.
White, R.N.)
The Doonbeg fishermen did not obtain any loans from the late Fishery Board {Lieut.
M'^Nevin.)
By loans from the late fund, the fishermen on the Kilkee coast obtained better canoes
and better gear than they had been using; and since the extinction of the fund, they
have had much difficulty in procuring materials. When these are obtained on credit, the
charges are usurious.
The best way to promote the fisheries on this coast, would be to encourage the building
of good boats, and to erect quays with curing-houses—{Lieut. Pennefather^
At Carrigaholt, the late fishery loan fund did not improve the condition of those who
obtained loans. They always contrived to get part of the loans in cash, which was applied
to the payment of rents, or to meet other pressing demands.
I am entirely opposed to loans for fishermen, having witnessed the misery produced, by
enforcing re-payment of those already given.
The fishermen have experienced much difficulty in obtaining materials, since the extinc¬
tion of the late loan fund; but they have not suffered so much as they did in re-paying the
loans of the late Fishery Board. V\Tien materials are obtained on credit, the charges made
are usurious. /
Bounties should be given instead of loans.—{The Rev. Mr. Duggan^
On the Clare coast, withm the Shannon, there are no loan funds, nor are the fishermen
assisted by the local banks. They are too poor to avail themselves of savings banks or
benefit societies.
The loan fund of the late Fishery Board was of material benefit to the Fisheries and
fishermen, but not proportionably to the sums advanced, owing to the abuses which pre¬
vailed. The traders, on whom orders were given for fishing materials, furnished me with
accounts of the articles alleged to have been supplied, verified by solemn declarations; but
in the last summer during which this fund was in operation, I discovered, that instead of
fishing materials, as set forth in the accounts, cash was given in a great many instances, at
a discount of fifteen per cent., and in other instances wearing apparel was given. I made
this discovery just in time to stop general payments, from one trader alone, exceeding £40
