REPORT OF THE INSPECTORS OF IRISH FISHERIES ON THE SEA AND INLAND FISHERIES OF IRELAND, FOR 1884. Presented to both Houses of Parliament by Command of Her Majesty DUBLIN: PRINTED BY ALEX. THOM & CO. (Limited), 87, 88, & 89, ABBEY-STREET, THE QUEEN'S PRINTING OFFICE. To be purchased, either directly or through any Bookseller, from any of the following Agents, viz,: Messrs. Hansard, 13, Great Queen-street, W.C., and 32, Abingdon-street, Westminster; Messrs. Eyre and Spottiswoode, East Harding-street, Fleet-street, and Sale Office, House of Lords; Messrs. Adam and Charles Black, of Edinburgh; Messrs. Alexander Thom and Co. (Limited), or Messrs. Hodges, Figgis, and Co., of Dublin. 1885. [C.—4545] Price M CONTENTS. Page. REPORT, .................................................................................................................................................... 3 APPENDIX,............................................................................................. ............. 47 Appendix No. I. —Bye-Laws in force for Sea Fisheries, ...•••• . 47 3.—Salmon, Herrings, Mackerel, and Cod, exported to certain places, . • • 0 . 52 Irish Reproductive Loan Fund. 2—Proceedings for year 1884, and Total Amount of Loans advanced, and Total Repayments for ten years ending 31st December, 1884, ...... 52 Salmon Fisheries. 4—License duties received in 1884, ........ 53 5. Do. received in 1863 to 1884, ....... 53 ' 6. Do. payable im Ireland, ....... 54 7. —Bye-Laws in force, ......... 55 8. —Close Seasons in Ireland, ....... 58, 59 9. —Rivers, Tidal and Fresh Water, Boundaries of, ..... , 62, 63 Do. mouth of defined, in 1884, ....... 62 Sea and Coast Fisheries Fund. 10.—Statement of Property transferred by late Trustees to Board of Public Works, . 64 II. —Loans applied for and advanced to 31st December, 1884, . 64 OF THE INSPECTORS OF IRISH FISHERIES ON THE SEA AND INLAND FISHERIES OF IRELAND, FOR 1884. TO HIS EXCELLENCY HENRY HOWARD MOLYNEUX HERBERT, EARL OF CARNARVON, K.P., &c., &c., Ac. LORD-LIEUTENANT GENERAL AND GENERAL GOVERNOR OF IRELAND. May it Please your Excellency, We have the honour, in conformity with section 112 of the 5 and 6 Vic., cap. 106, to submit our Report for the year 1884, being the sixteenth since the Sea and Inland Fisheries of Ireland have been placed under the superintendence of this Department. The Sea Fisheries. The returns obtained from the Collectors of Customs and the Coast Guard show that the number of Registered Vessels in Ireland during 1884 fishing for sale amounted to 5,785, with crews consisting of 20.884 men, and 941 boys. Of the above, 1,588 vessels, 6,014 men and 407 boys, are shown as exclusively fishing for sale; and 4,197 vessels, 14.870 men and 534 boys as partially so engaged. It would appear from the above that there is a decrease of 81 vessels and 108 men since last year, whilst in the number of boys there is an increase of 59. This would make the actual decrease of the persons employed 49. We have, however, to repeat the opinion expressed in former reports, that these returns cannot be considered as accurate, as we are aware that numbers of boats are engaged in fishing, particularly on the west coast, which are not registered. Mackerel Fishery. The mackerel season of 1884 was a successful one, and although the total capture was somewhat less than 1883, the prices obtained were higher than in that year, the result being that whereas in 1883 the gross amount realized by the fishermen was <£170,624— the largest amount ever previously obtained in one season, the value of the capture in 1884, was, £196,180—being £25,526 in excess of the previous year. The average price obtained per box of 120 fish was 17s. 4c/., that of the two previous years averaging only 14s. per box. The prices varied from 5s. to 90s. per box, giving an average of 17s. 4c/. per 120 fish. Although there has been a decrease in the number of boats attending the mackerel fishing, it is gratifying to find that, whereas last year there were 34 English and Manx boats employed in excess of Irish boats, this year it is reduced to 22. The Light required for Baltimore Harbour, referred to in last report, has been pro­ vided and is found most useful—this was done under the Sea Fisheries Act of 1883. The capture off the different parts of the coasts will be seen by the following state­ ment showing the quantity brought into the ports named. Kinsale, 99,359 boxes. Carrigaholt, 48 boxes. , 4,247 Union. Hall, . Ballydonegan, • . 1,022 Baltimore, . 77,386 Ballycrovane, . 694 n Smerwick, 11,521 55 Castletown Bereliaven, 13,345 n Dingle, . 1,761 ?? Ventry , 12,848 n Castletownsliend, . , 4,204 At Baltimore 8 vessels arrived with ice, the quantity imported amounting to 3,172 tons; 3 of these vessels remained as hulks during the season, and in addition 5 other hulks—with a tonnage of 1,410 tons—were employed in storino- it. A 2 4 REPORT OF THE Fourteen steamers, of a gross tonnage of 1,853 tons, were employed in conveying the fish to the English markets. Ninety-six men were employed in buyers’ boats, at an average weekly cost of £1 4s. each man, and a considerable number of men were also employed as packers, &c., at good wages. At Kinsale. Twelve vessels arrived with 7,225 tons of ice. Ten hulks—with a gross tonnage of 2,742 tons—were used for storing ice. Fourteen steamers were employed conveying the fish to England gross tonnage 1,645 tons. There were 260 men employed in the buyers’ boats, at wages of £1 6s. a week per man. About 100 were also employed as packers, at the wages of £1 10s. a week per man, and about 20 carters, at £1 a week per man. The gross earnings of these men at Baltimore and Kinsale, would it is believed exceed the sum mentioned in last year’s report, viz., <£12,000 for the season. French Vessels. The number of French vessels fishing off the Irish coasts was 90—being an excess over last year of 13. Herring Fisheries. The capture of herrings in the places named below, from whence only we have been enabled to procure statistics, was somewhat less than in 1883, but the prices realized more than compensated for the reduced capture, the fishermen having received in 1884 £111,124, the result of the earnings being more by £5,386 than in 1883. A reference to last year’s report will show that the herring fisheries have during the last two years been much more successful than in the two or three preceding years, and it is believed that if we could obtain statistics of the capture from other places where we are aware herrings are taken in considerable quantities—the result would show a large increase in the quantity and value of the herring fisheries. The fishino’ at Kinsale realized £39,566, and although somewhat less than the capture of 1883, it is evident that it has been for some time past not only the principal mackerel fishing station, but also the most productive of all the herring fishing stations on the coast. It was expected last year that considerable development would take place in this fishing from the Baltimore and Cape Clear districts, but this has not occurred to any appre­ ciable extent. Probably the expense may have prevented the fishermen from providing herring trains which would necessitate a large outlay of money. As regards the prices obtained it is difficult to account for the wide difference between one place and another. At Howth the highest average price was obtained, viz., £1 18s. 4c/., the lowest being at Balbriggan, where only 14s. IcZ. per mease was received. Herring Fishery, 1884. Boats employed, and highest number Total on any one day. Capture. Average — Total Value. No. of Price. English. Scotch. Irish. | Manx. Mease. ©t 6* • (!•• <e Ilowtb, between 2nd June and 27th September, . 6 140 24 1 6,249 1 18 4 11,985 Arklow, between 10th June and 22nd December, —i — 70 _ 1,417 0 15 2 1,077 Kinsale, between 13th April and 21st June, 1 134 12 2 44,323 0 17 10 39,566 Greenore,between 12th June and 10th November, 4 9 48 12 10,750 1 0 7 11,067 Ardglass, between 26th May and 25th October, . — 106 70 14,085 1 5 2 17,725 Omeathand Warrenpoint, between 16th August and 22nd December, _ 14 194 1 0 8 200 Kilkeel, between 1st June and 1st November, 3 11 26 7 8,460 1 5 0 10,575 Annalong, between 11th June and 1st November, 10 15 50 9 15,000 1 2 6 16,875 Courtown, between J 4th October and 20th Dec., — — 20 _ 140 1 0 0 140 Balbriggan, between 21st June and 27th Dec., . - 2 75 3 2,711 0 14 1 1,914 Total, .... > 103,329 1 1 6 111,124 INSPECTORS OF IRISH FISHERIES. 5 Piers and Harbours. The following is a list of Applications received for grants for constructing or improving Piers, Boat Slips, and Harbours. The works mentioned are given hi their order of counties, and not in their order of importance. No. County. Name of Place. Situation. 1 Antrim, Ballywillan, Portrush.. o n • Ballycastle, Opposite Rathlin Island. 3 n • * Portmuck, Island Magee. 4 Clare, Liscannor, Liscannor Bay. 5 15 ’ Labasheeda, River Shannon. 6 n • Muckinish, Muckinish Bay, in Blackhead Bay. 7 n New Quay, South of entrance to Aughinish Ray. 8 u Seafield, South of Mai Bay. 9 12 Freagh Castle, . Between Mai Bay and Liscannor Bay. 10 55 Rinvilla, .... Rinvilla Bay, at Mouth of Shannon. 11 55 • Crab Island, 54 miles north-east of Hag’s.