436 IRISH INLAND FISHERIES COMMISSION.
June 8,1E0O.
Professor Edward Townsend, M.A.,
D.sc.
wire netting to save the fry going down, and also the slats.
10454.
Mr.
Perry.—Would
not that apply to the canal: the navigation canal is connected with that; western river?—
There is not the least objection to its being put across the canal.
10455.
You would shut out boats from getting up?—Oh,
no; it could be made moveable.
It can be done if there is money to do it.
10456.
Chairman.—Do
you think there is much destruction of fish in Galway by the mills?—I
think there is on the western side, and on the eastern side with regard to the fry.
10457.
Is there anything else ?—I
think rod fishing should finish at the end of September, because fish coming up here are perfectly useless in October.
The fish coming up in October are quite unfit for eating, and there is no sport in catching them.
10458.
Would you advocate an increase in the anount of the licence for nets and rods ?—I
would not.
10459.
You would net increase the licence?—No,
except I would put a licence on trout rods, because men very often go out to fish for trout, and they come across a salmon occasionally, or perhaps fre¬ quently.
10460.
Professor Cunningham.—You
say poaching is largely instrumental in reducing the number of spring fish ?—Certainly;
because the number of spring fish is affected by the number of slats that have gone down the previous year.
Slats are killed by the poachers.
10461.
Then has the rainfall much to clo with it?
—I do not think it has here.
It has with regard to the rod fishing in summer, because sometimes in a dry year you cannot fish at all.
10462.
But with regard to the general decline in the last number of years?—Well
I cannot say, beyond the causes I have mentioned already.
What we are affected by here, principally with regard to the peal fishing, is the height of the water in June and July.
10463.
Can you suggest anything to get rid of these swallow holes ?—I
think what we commenced last year is the only way it can be done—fill them up with concrete; but then that is very expensive.
10464.
You think it can be done?—Oh,
it can be done.
I think we ought to get some money from the Agricultural Board to have a larger staff of bailiffs, and a, perhaps, better staff.
At present we have only one head inspector, who is paid £70 a year; Mr.
Hallet pays him £30 and the Board pay him £40.
We want several men of that kind, and we want funds for the purpose.
It would be a very rational thing for the Agricultural Board to give us a small sum.
10465.
Professor MTntosh.—Do
you know, as a matter of fact, that the slats are taken out of the head race—poached there?—I
think they are.
I have never observed them, because they are never taken out when people are about; but I have no doubt of it.
10466.
Are they sold here ?—1
have heard they are sent off to Manchester and Birmingham and English towns to be kippered.
10467.
Have they not been detected by the action of the Fishmongers Company?—!
cannot say who detected them.
10468.
But you are quite sure they are taken out of the head races of the mills V—That is the general belief.
The races leading from the principal mills are very long, and if the slats are not prevented from going down at the junction of the race to the main river they go down a long distance to the mills, and then if they are stopped there they are very slow to come back.
They are pounded, and then are very easily taken out.
So I think the proper place to put the protection is at the intake from the main river.
10469.
It is in many places put there, but it is not so here ?—There
is no protection here in the western mill-races.
10470.
Have you any experience with regard h the smolts going into these head races ?—They=mUst
10471.
Have you any observations with regard tn the action of turbines on them ?—No;
but I th" V from the construction of a turbine, if y0u look t its internal anatomy, if I may so call it, either the inflow or the outflow, you will see that a fish gob* through it has a bad chance of escaping with his lif
° 10472.
Have you seen any in the tail race?—N0
I never made any observations for that purpose.
' 10473.
You hoard the evidence that two glass bottles with white paper inside, got through without injury?—Yes,
bottles are very thick, and sometimes an egg is very hard to break.
Mr.
Perry.—But
all turbines have not two wheels?
—Most of them have.
10475.
Professor M'Intosh.—You
mentioned par¬ ticularly that rod fishing should be stopped in this neighbourhood in September?—Yes,
I think so-be¬ cause fish caught then are quite useless.
I have had experience of the last thirty years.
10476.
You find towards the end of September it becomes risk}1-to catch them ?—I
think so.
10477.
Mr.
Green.—You
are in charge, I think, of the gates at the mill weir?—Yes.
10478.
Mr.
Hallet spoke of tho damage clone to the salmon by not allowing fish up last year?—Yes.
10479.
Do you think the bed of the river could be altered ?—I
think it could.
The pool leadiag from bridge to the regulating weir is nob so bad, perhaps, as you think, for this reason—that when the water gets very low fish cannot come up to the pool or the Queen's gap.
Thoy could not get up as far as the arch, so that there is not a run every day of fish from the sea to tho pool at the bridge.
When the water falls to a certain level they cannot come up at all from the sea to the pool in front of the ladder, so that it is not quite so crowded as you think.
There was a fair number there last year.
Mr.
Hallett was very sensitive about it, naturally, and he came to me, but I am in a very peculiar position.
I have to draw the lines between three contending bodies—the drainage, navigation, and the millers ; but the millers are very much alive to their own interests, and particularly my friend, Mr.
Perry, there.
They are continually attacking me with solicitors' letters about regulating the water.
It is contrary to the award for me to open the gates, and I told Mr.
Hallet so, and told him to apply to the Local Government Board and the Board of Works.
10480.
Professor Cunningham.—What
wasyour own opinion?—I
don't think they suffered quite as much as Mr.
Hallett stated.
Some few might be affected; but I don't think they were kept long there.
Mr.
Hallett.—They
were several weeks; we did not got the run until late.
Witness.—The
rain came on at times and allowed some to got up.
Mr.
HalleU.—lt
helped them a little; but the fungus was very bad.
Witness.—1
have seen them worse.
I think it could be very much improved.
The ladder tbere is a very fine ladder; in fact, it is considered a model ladder; people come from all parts of Eng¬ land and Scotland to see it.
The ladder was con¬ structed by Mr.
Roberts.
Prom the lowest step of the ladder to the pool or drain the water gets ver> shallow in summer.
If that part could be iowerea a bit—it is only a matter of £ s.
d.—vnth
a coupi of more steps up to the gap, the fish could easilyj up.
It would greatly serve this finery ^ormnug considering that the great supply to the Dreeu & grounds is in July and June, when the watery lowest; and if, in addition, a series oi v
^ were constructed with steps between tnem,,* to allow fish every day of the year an op**ranvj of getting up to the Lough Corrib, the benefit woui be enormous.
