The following is an extract taken from Irish Parliament Archives search Irish Fishing Industry Volume 1, December 13, 1922. It offers an alternative perpective to the Newfoundland fishery which is often viewed as dominated by the West countrymen of England.

HOUSES OF THE OIREACHTAS PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES

Seanad Eireann

Volume 1, December 13, 1922 Irish Fishing Industry

Dr. G. SIGERSON: I desire to propose the following motion:-

"Considering the flourishing condition of the Irish Fishing and Fish-curing
Industries during the existence of the Irish Parliament, and their
discouragement and decay since the Union, it is desirable that at an early
period a Committee or Commission be appointed to report upon the state of
those industries and on the best methods of promoting their prosperity"

My attention was first called to the condition of Irish industries through
reading some Blue Books of the 18th Century pertaining to the English Realm,
and the object of those books apparently was to discover why it was that the
Irish Fisheries were prospering and gaining a hold upon the market superior
to that which the British and Scottish Fisheries possessed. The facts which
I shall mention cannot be impeached for partiality, for they are all
statements of English merchants and officials. First, you find that about
the middle of the 18th Century the Irish fishers were even then alert and
expert. For example, a Mr. McDonald of Scotland brought some Irishmen over
to teach the natives there how to make kelp. Another gentleman at another
time brought some Irish fishers to the North Hebrides to teach the natives
how to cure fish, and, finally, to the Shetlands Irish fishers were brought
to teach the natives how to proceed to the wider seas. At that time they had
only small boats containing [48] four men who would go out for eight miles,
or larger boats containing eight men, who would go out for twelve miles.
They brought up Irish ferries then containing twelve men, who would go out a
much greater distance.

Then as regards the expertness of the Irish fishers at that early period,
their advantages increased with the incoming of liberty and independence
under the favouring guidance of an Irish Parliament. It has sometimes been
stated that the Irish industries were fostered by too lavish bounties. Now,
this is absolutely untrue. Those English Blue Books stated that,
notwithstanding the fact that the bounties in Ireland were much lower than
those given in Britain, the Irish made better use of them. They were more
aptly applied as well as economically spent. Then, again, their alertness
was remarkable. Salt then was a precious commodity, and sometimes special
cargoes of prize salt came to the ports in England. In one case, for
example, English merchants complained that when a cargo of prize salt came
into the Port of London, the Commissioners there would not allow it to be
transhipped and carried along the shores of England to other ports. While
they were discussing that matter a Cork merchant stepped in and bought the
whole cargo and carried it off to Cork. There was smuggling of salt and
smuggling from Ireland, because Ireland seems to have succeeded in obtaining
a superior quality of that material. Then again, with regard to the mode of
curing, it was alleged that the Irish mode of curing was much superior to
that of Scotland or that of England. And again, it was alleged that the
probity of Irish merchants told greatly in favour of the Irish produce in
markets abroad, because whereas it was found that in many cases fish cured
and packed elsewhere than in Ireland were found to have their weight
augmented by the presence of stones and other materials which were not
edible, Irish fish were always chosen of the best, and only the best fish
were allowed in the casks, so that though the casks were smaller than the
casks of English or Scottish fish-curers, they fetched a higher price. The
Irish commanded the trade, so far as trade was allowed by the navigation
laws of that period, which as you know, restricted the trade. They commanded
the trade of [49] the West Indies, and not only was the fish trade a success
there, but meat-curing was also a success, and the produce was greatly
preferred on account of the reasons which I have given, and which are in the
Blue Books of the English Reports to the Committee of the House of Commons.
For these reasons, therefore, I beg to propose the resolution. Since the
Union these industries have greatly decayed. At that time Ireland had a
Highland fishery, and Ireland's boats were on the Highland seas. They had
also a fishery in Newfoundland. They even started a whale fishery there.
Newfoundland at that time was governed in a peculiar manner not favourable
to Irish fishers, because Lord North wrote to the Governor of Newfoundland
saying that he did not wish that the country should be settled. Instead of
its being a British fishery it became a Colonial fishery. Lord North made
the statement: "Whatever they ask for raw, give it to them roast, and
whatever they wish for roast, give it to them raw." In that way he tried to
treat Newfoundland as a kind of country containing only persons of English
descent or birth. However, merchants brought over Irishmen there, and
neglected to send them back according to the law, and the consequence was
you had an Irish colony there where a British colony was discouraged and
prevented and an Irish fishery established there which was practically a
colonial fishery of Ireland. These are the reasons for which I propose this
resolution. Since that time the trade in these industries has been decaying
and disappearing, and instead of our boats going into other seas, the boats
of other countries come into our seas, and the wealth of our Irish waters is
carried into foreign lands.

Sir T.H. GRATTAN ESMONDE Sir T.H. GRATTAN ESMONDE


50

Sir T.H. GRATTAN ESMONDE: I have great pleasure in seconding the resolution
proposed by our respected friend. No one is better qualified than he to
speak to us on this subject, or indeed upon many other matters touching the
material development of Ireland, which he has treated in his own fascinating
works which I have done myself the pleasure of reading. This is a subject in
which I take a very deep interest, but I shall not make a very long speech
upon it now. We shall have very many more opportunities for discussing it
later on. It is a subject of which I have made [50] a study and in which I
take a great interest. It is a subject of great interest for our people, and
one in which there is a mine of wealth for the country.

AN CATHAOIRLEACH AN CATHAOIRLEACH

AN CATHAOIRLEACH: It may interest Senator Sigerson, having regard to the
manifest concern he takes in the matter and the historical review he has
given us, to know that the Government, I have been so informed, are actually
engaged in the formation of a Ministry of Fisheries. This is one of the
primary matters the Senator has mentioned, and perhaps that information may
satisfy him.

Dr. G. SIGERSON Dr. G. SIGERSON

Dr. G. SIGERSON: Yes, certainly.

AN CATHAOIRLEACH AN CATHAOIRLEACH

AN CATHAOIRLEACH: I take it then the object of your motion has been
accomplished, and you do not wish to pursue it further?

Sir T.H. GRATTAN ESMONDE Sir T.H. GRATTAN ESMONDE

Sir T.H. GRATTAN ESMONDE: My friend would like to congratulate the
Government on the establishment of this Ministry.

Mr. C. IRWIN Mr. C. IRWIN

Mr. C. IRWIN: Perhaps the Senate could assist or co-operate with the
Government in this particular matter, which is of very vital importance to
the country at the present time. This is a matter that has been delayed
longer than it should be. Fishermen are in a very deplorable condition, and
they are suffering mainly from the want of instruction, the want of boats
and tackle, and the want of co-operation in curing and finding suitable
markets.

AN CATHAOIRLEACH AN CATHAOIRLEACH

AN CATHAOIRLEACH: I am quite sure the new Ministry will be only too
delighted to get in touch with any member of this Seanad who is able to give
any information or assistance.

Dr. G. SIGERSON Dr. G. SIGERSON

Dr. G. SIGERSON: I would like the resolution to be put to the Seanad and
passed, or put on record.

Motion put and carried.