214 IRISH INLAND FISHERIES COMMISSION.
Jan.
2b, 1900.
Mr.
Bunry Robinson, e.L„
jifr.
who lived at Finisglin.
They went out at night constantly, two or three nights a week, and visited the various places where the water bailiffs were, and if they found the water bailiffs were not doing their duty, they at once reported them, and the men were dismissed.
But now there is no one at all.
5209.
Young Blackadder has left?—He
has left.
I have been told it by men that poaching goes on to a large extent.
5210.
Mr.
Green.—Have
you any statistics at all of the catch of these lakes and streams to show how the fishing has declined.
Have you any figures ?—
No, I have not brought any figures.
I could not very well get at these figures unless the owner gives you his game book; but I know well from my own experience, because I fished the place for thirty years.
5211.
From your own experience could you say what would be a fair day's fishing with a rod in the days gone by, say twenty years ago ?—I
remember perfectly, at Ballynahinch, Mr.
Dai del Bockett, the son of the solicitor to the Law Life at that time, killing nine salmon at the Colonel's pool before breakfast, at Ballynahinch.
5212.
Was that an exceptional day ?—
Well, perhaps it was an exceptional day; but you were always sure of, say, five or six.
Often and often I got five or six salmon at Ballynahinch river without fishing anything like all day.
5213.
Chairman.—And
in the lakes ?—And
in the lakes, too.
5214.
About fifty white trout would be an average day there in addition—I am speaking from my own experience?—.Quite
so.
It is not what you would call the best white trout fishery in comparison with Costelloe and others.
Where you have very good salmon fishery I do not think you have a very good white trout fishery mixed, but if you never fished you could not drive from the Ballynahinch station past Blackadder's, as I do constantly, without seeing fish jumping in the season.
Now I drive up there and never see one stirring.
5215.
There are some pools in that river that fish appear to have disappeared from altogether, such as the Big Rapid?—Yes,
and the stream and Coghlan's Point.
5216.
Those are the pet places.
I remember one day getting eleven salmon in the Big Rapid, and I do not think you would get eleven the whole season now ?—I
remember Coghlan's Point was so good that before it was arranged that the stations were given out the night before, they used to get up at four •o'clock in the morning to get it, and at last it went so far that Mr.
Robert Mecready slept there all night, and when a gentleman came at 4 o'clock in the morning he found him before him.
Then it was arranged that the stations should be given out the night before.
You were always sure of five or six salmon a day at Coghlan's Point, but if you get one now you are lucky.
5217.
Professor Cunningham.—You
attribute the diminution to poaching entirely 1—No, I consider tneie is another cause—that is the netting at sea, as far as the white trout is concerned, and some salmon; but that has only commenced in my district.
It has not done much harm yet, but I believe it will.
5218.
Chairman.—You
mean mackerel fishing ?—
Yes.
5219.
When I was down there, four or five years ago, that was what they were talking about ?—As
far as Roundstone district—of course it has been going on a^ Arran for some years; but they are coming to Bound-stone aow, and they must do some harm.
I have seen slat white trout brought in.
The men do not want to kill them, but the same mesh catches them as catches mackerel.
5220.
Professor Cunningham.—You
have seen the white trout brought in by the mackerel boats your¬ self ?
—Yes.
catch 5221.
In large numbers ?
—No ; I do not think thev tch them in great numbers ; but in everv man's W every man's boat there might be fifty or sixty.
However, Mr.
G-reea would know that, There is no doubt I have seea them, and, of course, they are utterly useless.
5222.
Could you tell us the form the poaching takes in the Ballynahinch district?—K.illinCT
^he salmon before they spawn.
5223.
On the spawning beds?—When
the salmon come up on the spawning beds you have only to come with a light on a dark night and stick the gaff iu him The hen fish has not spawned, and all that is destroyed.
5224.
You think that this is carried on to a lar»e ex¬ tent in the Ballynahinch district ?—I
do.
Of course it is a thing that some would not say.
They are not able to prove it; but I know the country so well I have no hesitation in saying it.
5225.
And yet you have, as far as numbers are concerned, enough gillies ?—Too
many.
5226.
Have you any suggestion to make as to how the funds at your disposal might be better employed] —I have not read the evidence ; but I have heard that it has been stated by others, and I am very strongly in favour of it, that rewards should be given to the Constabulary.
The police go over that country hunting for illicit spirits.
They do that because they are well paid for it.
An officer and three or four men will go out.
Why would they not do the same to catch a poaching case ?
-I think it would be a very good idea.
I am quite sure my Board would give them the whole fine, taking out whatever the legal expense was.
We have got nothing out of it up to the present, so we might give something to the Constabulary.
5227.
Is there a good show of fry in the river at the proper times ?—I
would say so.
5228.
What time do they come down?—I
could not tell you much about that, not having worked a hafTchery; not personally having the supervision of any hatchery I could not tell you very much about that.
5229.
Do you think there is anything in the river to interfere with the welfare of the smolts ?—Oh,
we have beautiful spawning streams.
5230.
Mr.
Green.—It
has been asserted in some districts—agricultural districts, for instance—that arterial draining has had a great deal to say to the diminution of fish, by allowing the waters to run down?—By
lowering their spawning beds.
5231.
Ancl also in causing floods to run down quickly, and not keeping up and running down slower, as they used to do in days gone by in those rivers in agricultural districts ?—I
know what you mean.
5232.
I do not think anything of that sort exists!
— -That could not affect my district.
5233.
Chairman.—You
have no arterial drainage!
—No.
5234.
Mr.
Green.—So
it is impossible from that point of view.
Here we have a case where there is absolutely nothing of that sort, and yet the fish has decreased ?—Yes.
5235.
Professor MTntosii,—What would you suggest with regard to these watchers.
You men¬ tioned one head man.
Upon what body would you place his appointment %—Well, I do not know whether there is any State aid to be expected or not—but I think that the Conservators Board is bound to have a man of the kind, and ought to have a man of the kind.
5236.
Who is not a man under local influences?—'
Quite so ; an independent stranger.
5237.
Is there any body under whom you would suggest his being placed ?—1
think he ought to be placed under the Board of Conservators.
5238.
Would they appoint him, dr would he be
