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CSO/RP/1825/117

Letter from Henry Townsend, secretary, Irish Fishery Office, Dublin, to William H Gregory, Under Secretary of Ireland, Dublin Castle, reporting on a complaint from Robert Leslie Jr of County Kerry on the conduct of one Patrick Kelly, allegedly an ‘inspector of fisheries’. Observes that the fishery department does not employ anyone by that name as a fishing inspector or in any official post. Acknowledges, however, that Kelly might be employed by another body with an interest in the protection of the fish, a fact that Leslie could discover for himself ‘with little difficulty’. Returns letter from Leslie, Tarbert House, Tarbert, County Kerry, to Gregory, requesting intervention to prevent Kelly from causing a breach of the peace. Claims last year he travelled down from Limerick together with some boatmen and police and ‘destroyed a number of fisheries along the banks of the Lower [River] Shannon’. Alleges if he repeats the raid, as he intends to do, it will lead to ‘a desperate conflict’ with proprietors along the banks of the river.

15 Feb 1825-25 Feb 1825

1825

CSO/RP/1825/324

Copy letter from William H Gregory, Under Secretary of Ireland, Dublin Castle, to Sir Charles William Flint, secretary, Irish Office, London, conveying for attention of Henry Goulburn, Chief Secretary of Ireland, a letter from the secretary of the commissioners of Irish fisheries [Henry Townsend], Dublin [not present], on the subject of having a bill presented to amend and act of 5th George IV, chapter 64. Annotation on reverse from the Chief Secretary requesting that the letter and a draft bill be transmitted to the board of trade [commissioner for the assistance of trade and manufactures] for their consideration.

23 Mar 1825

1825

CSO/RP/1825/526

Letter from Henry Townsend, secretary, Irish Fishery Office, Dublin, to Henry Goulburn, Chief Secretary, Dublin Castle, seeking sanction for a payment of £5,000 by the Board of Customs to the commissioners of Irish Fisheries, for the present year, in accordance with the provisions of the act of 5th George IV, chapter 64. Encloses copy of accounts of the Irish Fishery board for the period ending 5 April 1825. Details expenditure towards building small fishing craft for use on the coast of counties Sligo and Clare, and issue of funds for the erection of a pier at Bundorra [Bundorragha], County Sligo, and other works. Also letter from Townsend to Thomas Taylor, clerk, Chief Secretary’s Office, seeking confirmation from the Lord Lieutenant for payment of the grant of £5,000 and asking that Gregory be reminded of their need for a formal letter for presentation to the Board of Customs.

5 Apr 1825-7 Jun 1825

1825

CSO/RP/1825/558

Petition of the noblemen, landholders and residents of County Wicklow, to Richard Wellesley, 1st Marquis Wellesley, Lord Lieutenant, Dublin Castle, setting out a case for development of the harbour of Greystones and seeking advance of funding for same. Emphasises the need for a safe haven for fishing vessels and ships, and for a port from which to trade local produce and to enable importation of fuel for general use. Such a facility, they stress, would also be a significant aid to ship safety, for over the past two months no fewer that two vessels were wrecked in the nearby sea, and in another instance ‘the crew and cargo with difficulty were saved’, c8 January 1825. Also letter from Alexander Nimmo, civil engineer, Dublin, to Henry Townsend, secretary, Irish Fishery Office, Dublin, reporting in favour of the proposal for a new harbour at Greystones, which he describes as ‘an object of great utility and importance’. Acknowledges the several advantages to the immediate area, especially for the development of local fishing, and estimates the work will cost near £4,000 to carry to completion. Encloses a copy plan of the intended harbour which he drew up in 1822 [not present], 24 January 1825. Also letter from Townsend to Henry Goulburn, Chief Secretary, Dublin Castle, adding his approval to the plans for development of the harbour and indicating the commissioners of fisheries are prepared to grant £500 towards its completion, on condition it be finished to the design furnished by Nimmo, 28 April 1825. Also 3 letters from Peter La Touche Jr, [], to the Chief Secretary’s Office, Dublin Castle [two are addressed to Alexander Mangin, clerk, and one to William H Gregory, Under Secretary of Ireland], concerning getting sight of the plan and specification for the project in question, 17 January; 23 February 1826.

c8 Jan 1825-23 Feb 1826

1826

CSO/RP/1825/654

Letter from Henry Townsend, secretary, Irish Fishery Office, Dublin, to Henry Goulburn, Chief Secretary, Dublin Castle, enclosing copy of the ‘Sixth Report of the Commissioners of Irish Fisheries for the Season of 1824’ for presentation to Richard Wellesley, 1st Marquis Wellesley, Lord Lieutenant. Report covers the period 6 April 1824 to 5 April 1825 and outlines the activities of the commissioners in providing grant aid for construction of harbours, for the building and repair of fishing vessels and initiatives undertaken to promote Irish fishing companies. Makes reference to the information obtained in the coast survey, and remarks upon measures taken to contain ‘a spirit of outrage’ at Dungarvan, County Waterford [which had previously appeared on the coast of Galway]. Records with satisfaction the success of the fishing enterprise at Killala, County Mayo, and recites a letter in praise of the venture from the bishop of Killala and Achonry [James Verschoyle]. Adds a series of appendices showing statistics and returns for white, herring and other forms of sea fishing; includes detail of the number of men employed, the quantity of fish recovered and exported, and the amount of bounty payable. Appendix number 14 gives a breakdown of funds disbursed by the commissioners of fisheries under the act of the 59th of George III, chapter 109.

5 Apr 1825-12 May 1825

1825

CSO/RP/1825/674

Letter from William Gregory, Under Secretary, Dublin Castle, to Henry Goulburn, Chief Secretary of Ireland, [London], drawing attention to the imminent departure from office of Henry R Paine, a commissioners of Irish fisheries. Explains Paine’s discontent over poor attendance at meetings of the fishery board. Confides that when commissioners do turn up it is often with the intention of promoting ‘some private object’ of their own. Remarks he has implored of Paine to remain in office until a communication is received from government. With reply on back from Goulburn, asking that Paine be requested to withdraw his resignation until some arrangement can be made to improve the frequency of board meetings, 21 June 1825. Encloses letter from Paine, Inland Navigation Office, 11 Merrion Street, Dublin, to Gregory, offering his resignation from the Fishery Board [letter marked ‘Private’]. Expresses his dissatisfaction with the irregularity of meetings of the board and the frustration of members failing to turn up for important votes. Recalls making a recommendation to a meeting of the board in January 1824 for the introduction of weekly meetings for the transaction of business, but remarks instead a ‘Monthly Roster’ was put in place. This measure, he adds, ‘totally failed’. Encloses copy of resolutions complaining of the failure of the commissioners to comply with the monthly roster for attendance at meetings, and recommending a weekly attendance for the regular conduct of all business. Also resolves that a panel consisting of 3 commissioners be present to ratify monetary disbursements for harbours or other works; proposed by Paine with forward note by Henry Townsend, secretary, Irish Fishery Office, Dublin, 2 December 1824; 17 June 1825. Also letter from Paine to Gregory, tendering his resignation from the board of Irish fisheries. Remarks he is ‘not moved to this step by caprice or hasty emotion’ and makes reference to having other work commitments, 17 June 1825.

2 Dec 1824-21 Jun 1825

1825

CSO/RP/1825/713

Letter from Henry Townsend, secretary, Irish Fishery Office, Dublin, to William H Gregory, Under Secretary of Ireland, Dublin Castle, expressing resistance to an application from Edward Nicholson, inspector of fisheries at Sligo, for an extension of his work expenses. He states that such a ‘commuted allowance’ has been ‘repeatedly pressed’ upon the board, but warns compliance is ‘likely to establish an injurious precedent’, 9 June 1825. Returns letter from Colonel Henry King, 8 Upper Portland Place, London, MP for County Sligo, to Henry Goulburn, Chief Secretary, Dublin Castle, offering support for Nicholson’s claim for an adjustment in travel expenses, 2 May 1825. Also returns letter from Nicholson, Sligo, County Sligo, to King, requesting a single payment of £200 per year in expenses to enable him to do his duty more fully, to visit piers and protect stock. Notes in the course of his work for the past year, he was paid a total of £114 8s 10½d but an additional sum is needed if he is to act efficiently as both an inspector and superintendent. Emphasises the benefits his work brings to some 4,000 fishermen under his jurisdiction and mentions his direct intervention to prevent ‘violence and plundering’ on the coast of Sligo, 24 April 1825.

24 Apr 1825-9 Jun 1825

1825

CSO/RP/1825/776

Letter from Henry Townsend, secretary, Irish Fishery Office, Dublin, to Henry Goulburn, Chief Secretary, Dublin Castle, offering a defence of the recently erected pier on the island of Ennisturk [Inishturk], County Mayo, in response to a complaint received by islanders. Makes reference to the approval given the project by Lieutenant Hutchinson of the Royal Navy, and extols the utility of the project as a haven for local vessels, as a launch for fishing craft and as a location for a water guard station, 14 July 1825. Returns memorial from the fishermen of the island of Ennisturk to George John Spencer, 2nd Earl Spencer, and John Jeffreys Pratt, 1st Marquis Camden, [estate trustees under the will of Charles Bingham, 1st Earl of Lucan], complaining over the construction of the pier of Ennisturk on grounds of its impracticality, insecurity and danger to fishing vessels. Asks that the pier, put in place by Alexander Nimmo, civil engineer overseeing public works in the western district, be removed as it constitutes a barrier to the well established herring fishery on the island, cJune 1825. Also returns letter from Earl Spencer, Spencer House, London, to Goulburn, representing the complaints of the fishermen of Ennisturk and seeking redress by the board of fisheries, 29 November 1824. Also encloses an extraction of a letter from Charles O’Malley, agent to the estate of Earl of Lucan, Castlebar, County Mayo, [transcribed by Spencer], expressing his opinion that the harbour has been ‘ruined’ by the ill conceived position of the quay. He further complains of the disappearance of seaweed from the vicinity due to the heavy action of the sea current around the quay, 20 November 1824. Encloses copy report from John Killaly, civil engineer, to Townsend, proposing the facility might be enhanced and improved by the construction of a breakwater and a small landing slip or quay, 28 June 1825. Encloses plan of the harbour and pier of Inisturk [Inishturk] by Killaly [to which reference is made in his report]; hand coloured and drawn to a scale of 1 mile to 2½ inches, 10 June 1825. Also additional letter from Spencer, Ryde, Isle of Wight, to Goulburn, acknowledging reply of 23 July 1825 and indicating intention of setting the documents received from the fishery board before the ‘parties concerned’. He requests permission to have the information sent under government cover, 1 August 1825.

20 Nov 1824-1 Aug 1825

1825

CSO/RP/1825/809

Letter from Henry Townsend, secretary, Irish Fishery Office, Dublin, to Henry Goulburn, Chief Secretary, Dublin Castle, conveying the recommendation of John Madden, inspector general of the east coast, for the amalgamation of the fishing district of Clogher [Clogherhead], County Louth, with that of Balbriggan, in County Dublin, on account of a reduction in activity in the former following the abolition of the tonnage bounty on herring fishing. Asks that the Lord Lieutenant’s approval be given for the removal of one local inspector to the fishing station at either Valentia in County Kerry, or Clifden in County Galway. Annotation on back of letter in pencil from CSO advises the officer stationed in Clogher be transferred to the west coast; followed by the word ‘Approved’ in the hand of Richard Wellesley, 1st Marquis Wellesley, Lord Lieutenant.

21 Jul 1825

1825

CSO/RP/1825/826

Letter from Henry Townsend, secretary, Irish Fishery Office, Dublin, to Henry Goulburn, Chief Secretary, Dublin Castle, pressing his claim for an increase in salary to a level comparable with that received by his counterpart in Great Britain. Points out his application has the backing of the commissioners of Irish fisheries and observes the Lord Lieutenant has authority to accept their recommendation in accordance with 59th act of George III, chapter 109, section 44, 11 February 1825. Encloses copy letter from Charles John A MacLean, secretary to the board of customs, Dublin, to Townsend, recognising his promotion to the Irish Fishery Board and stating his regret over the ‘loss of an officer whose Public and Private Character has obtained the whole of their confidence’, 30 November 1820. Also letter from the commissioners of Irish fisheries to Goulburn, expressing their support for Townsend’s claim to a salary increase. They stress the responsibilities of his present post and commend him for showing ‘unremitting diligence and zeal’ in the discharge of his official duties, 20 January 1825. Also encloses address from Townsend to the commissioners of Irish fisheries making an extensive case for an augmentation of pay. Emphasises since commencement as secretary an almost fourfold increase has occurred in the labour attached to his office; he has responsibility for the supervision of new piers, a loan fund, a repair fund, and a boat building fund, as well as being entrusted with very considerable financial management duties. Continues his argument through use of a comparative table, listing in the left column the ‘Duties of British Secretary’ and on the right the ‘Duties of British Secretary’ [his own]. Concludes with a comparison of remuneration given to the respective secretaries of the British and Irish fisheries and reiterates his income is less than half of that paid to his British counterpart, 20 January 1825.

30 Nov 1820-11 Feb 1825

1825