"I tested this fact in Galway," says Mr.S.C.Hall.
"I had ordered fish for dinner; two salt haddocks were brought to me.
On inquiry, I ascertained where they were bought, and learned from the seller that he was the agent of a Scotch firm, whose boats were at that time loading in the bay."[10] But although Scotland imports some 80,000 barrels of cured herrings annually into Ireland, that is not enough; for we find that there is a regular importation of cured herrings, cod, ling, and hake, from Newfoundland and Nova Scotia, towards the food of the Irish people.[11] The fishing village of Claddagh, at Galway, is more decaying than ever.
It seems to have suffered from a bombardment, like the rest of the town.

The houses of the fishermen, when they fall in, are left in ruins.

While the French, and English, and Scotch boats leave the coast laden with fish, the Claddagh men remain empty-handed.

They will only fish on "lucky days," so that the Galway market is often destitute of fish, while the Claddagh people are starving.

On one occasion an English company was formed for the purpose of fishing and curing fish at Galway, as is now done at Yarmouth, Grimsby, Fraserburgh, Wick, and other places.