When opening the debate on the Vote for Fisheries, I pointed to the wonderful asset we have here in our inland fisheries, and the wonderful tourist attraction they offer. I should like to know from the Minister whether any progress has been made between his Department and An Bord Fáilte in regard to certain publicity which was to be given to our fisheries on the Continent. It has been stated time and again that one of our highest-ranking industries is the tourist industry and for that reason I feel that publicity aimed at attracting tourists should be undertaken, because these fisheries and the facilities available here constitute one of the greatest attractions we have for tourists.
I recollect that some time about the end of 1956 a conference was held between the officers of the Fisheries Department and the officers of An Bord Fáilte and that a survey was to be undertaken in order to obtain detailed and accurate information under various heads such as development, local and central organisation, and publicity. At that time, I suggested to the officers of the Fisheries Branch that we needed more publicity to advertise our fisheries abroad. I found evidence in the course of my own visits to London of the great difficulty there was in obtaining information as to our valuable inland fisheries and I thought it would have been wise if representatives of the fisheries Department, the Inland Fisheries Trust and An Bord Fáilte would come together and form a committee for the purpose of giving the greatest possible publicity to our inland fisheries and for having booklets published for distribution in France, Holland, Belgium and England, so as to give the greatest possible amount of publicity to these fisheries.
I also suggested that a separate booklet be published giving details of salmon fishing in Ireland and that that booklet should receive the widest continental circulation. I thought it would be wise to have a number of other booklets published such as booklets on sea-trout fishing, brown-trout fishing, course fishing and coarse fishing in the Shannon basin, and a special booklet giving detailed particulars of the coarse fishing facilities in Cavan and Monaghan. In addition to that, I suggested a booklet giving all the details of sea angling in Ireland, fishing in the Dublin district, salmon, trout, course fishing and sea-fishing between, say, Clogher Head and Courtown.
A separate booklet could be published giving details of fishing in the Cork district where there are considerable and valuable fisheries which would be of the greatest interest to angling tourists and this would be a considerable asset to hoteliers and others living in the towns and villages convenient to these Cork fisheries. A separate booklet dealing with fishing in Limerick district and a further publication dealing with fisheries in the Galway area could also be produced. On general lines, we could have a book on fishing in the Midlands because we have some very valuable fisheries in the Midlands which would undoubtedly be very attractive to tourists.
I wonder what has happened to the suggestion I made that in those booklets there should be pictures and photographs of well-known trout rivers, say, and, in addition, any other information that could be given regarding the local hotels and whatever local organisation the Inland Fisheries Trust could establish there for the purpose of making it convenient and enjoyable for the angling tourists.
In that connection, I understand there was a very valuable contribution given by an angling association in the district of Banagher in Offaly. I understand a number of visiting anglers came there and, in consultation with local angling clubs, decided that the fishing in that area would certainly rank as one of the best in the country. I should like to hear from the Minister what progress has been made in that connection.
It is quite true to say the Fisheries Department has had considerable inconvenience, as has already been made known to the Minister, through the poisoning of valuable fisheries, due to the operations of Bord na Móna. Apart from that, certain works undertaken by local authorities, such as schemes under the Local Authorities (Works) Act, resulted in very great harm to valuable fisheries. Such damage can be done by carrying out drainage especially on rivers where spawning is taking place. I have not got the booklet with me at the moment, but I remember reading a booklet published by Mr. Charles McGrath, in which he referred to the drainage of certain streams and said that great injury to fisheries could take place through local authorities allowing weeds to be cut on the banks of rivers which had valuable fishing potentials, and allowing the weeds to flow down-stream, causing a nuisance and considerable damage.
Mr. McGrath is one of the engineers in the Department of Fisheries and I thought that the article he wrote—I am sure Deputies must have got a copy of it at the time—gave very valuable and detailed information, especially in reference to the question of local drainage and the amount of damage such drainage could do. I have already suggested, and I now suggest again to the Minister, that a circular be compiled and sent to county engineers impressing on them the importance of giving some consideration to the fisheries where drainage works are being undertaken, so that they will make sure that the weeds which flow down-stream and which tend to defeat the purpose of the drainage, in the first instance, will not be allowed to hinder the progress of fishing in the river concerned, and so that an effort will be made to see that some protection is given to this valuable asset.
I think the Department was considering some months ago sending a circular on those lines to county engineers. The Minister should concern himself with this matter in the interests of inland fishing. It is well known that in country districts the only concern of the ordinary landowner is to have his holding drained. Of course, it is very important that drainage works under the Local Authorities (Works) Act and under the land rehabilitation scheme should be carried out and that the first consideration should be the proper drainage and the general improvement of farms throughout the country.
However, it would be well worth the effort if engineers in charge of such drainage schemes would keep an eye to the welfare of fishing because it is well known that many fish are killed annually because of mismanagement of drainage operations. It would be a good idea if an extract from the report published by Mr. McGrath were forwarded to engineers throughout the country because being an eminent engineer himself, I feel Mr. McGrath's suggestions would bear a considerable amount of fruit if put into operation.
When I spoke on this Estimate on Tuesday evening, I made a brief reference to An Bord Iascaigh Mhara. I recollect having referred to the fact that An Bord Iascaigh Mhara was set up under the Fisheries Acts for the purpose of seeing that fish were properly marketed and that there was general development and improvement in that regard around the coast. The fish dealers, or fishmongers as they are commonly known, have many objections to the operations of An Bord Iascaigh Mhara. When I was in charge of the Fisheries Branch I went very carefully and closely into all aspects of the relationship of these people and the board. I went to the trouble, as did the Minister for Agriculture at the time, of getting the advice and opinions of the ordinary fishermen in so far as the board was concerned. In that way I secured a considerable amount of valuable information.
On all occasions in which I was confronted with problems I availed myself of the opinions of the ordinary fishermen. In consultation with them I talked over their problems. On my entry into the Fisheries Branch my knowledge of the fishing industry was practically nil. The only way I could familiarise myself with activities around our coast was by going among the fishermen, talking to them and getting them to speak with me. I am glad to see that the Minister for Lands has made a start by visiting Killybegs. I hope that, when replying, he will give us the benefit of his impressions of Killybegs. I should like to say that the fish processing plant and the fishmeal pilot plant at Killybegs are well worth a visit by any Deputy who takes an interest in the fishing industry in this country. He may not find the odour very pleasing but his visit will be worth while.
When visiting fishing districts I heard some serious criticisms of the operations of An Bord Iascaigh Mhara. I received deputations who severely criticised the board and spoke of the unfair competition between the board and private concerns. On any occasion, however, in which an investigation of such charges was made, I found they could not be established. It is important to note that a considerable amount of the improvements carried out around the coast have been due to the operations of An Bord Iascaigh Mhara. You will find appreciation of that fact wherever you find a group of fishermen, whether it be in Castletownbere, Killybegs, Murrisk, Galway or any other part of the country. These fishermen will say definitely that were it not for the protection and the assistance given by the board they would not be in existence.
I never met any fisherman in any fishing district, no matter how he felt about the operations of the board, who did not appreciate that he owed his existence to the board. The fishermen realise that at least they can now market their fish properly. By putting fish on the Dublin markets the board has seen to it that a price is now paid for fish that the fishermen could not possibly obtain if the board were not there to help them.
We must therefore appreciate that the creation of An Bord Iascaigh Mhara was a considerable help towards giving the fishermen confidence in themselves in the knowledge that in future they cannot be exploited as they were in the past. In the past fishermen had an organisation known as Muintir na Mara. That organisation cannot now speak for the fishermen because it is practically non-existent, having, I found on investigation, no membership.