The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1883-05-19 00:00:00

TEE
INTERNATIONAL FISHERIES

EXHIBITION.

THE OPENING CEREMONY.

'By command of the Queen, and on her Majesty's
behalf, his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales,
opened the International Fisheries Exhibition
at South Kensington, on Saturday. The weather out-
side the building was intensely disagreeable, but inside
the Exhibition the scene was so bright and strikingly
Pretty that all thoughts of the unpleasantness outside
'vanished before the visitor hai scarcely patsed through
the tastefully decorated entrance hall and into the
tritish Sea Fisheries Gallery.— The Times of Monday
gave an interesting aceounc of the ceremony, from
which we extract the following particulars
In the large entrance-hall, as the time for the
coming of the Royal people approached, the scene
Presented to late arrivals was a gay one. On the left
were drawn up as a guard of honour the fine-looking
then of Sir Allen Young's corps of Royal Naval
Volunteers, bearing themselves smartly in their
%anon; dress. To the right, chatting together in
Rreups, stood those who were presently to take their
places in the procession.
Shortly before the hour appointed by the ceremonial
programme for the arrival of members of the Royal
Family, Prince Edward of Saxe-Weimar entered, and
then, with brief intervals between the time of their
coming, the Duke and Duchess of Teck, the Duke and
Duchess of Edinburgh, the Duke and Duchess of Con-
naught, Princess Christian, and the Duke and Duchess of
Albany, the band of the Marines announcing to those
out of sight by playing the Royal salute the arrival of
Royal visitors. The orders to the guard of honour
formed by the Coldstreams outside Rave notice to those
awaiting within that the procession of carriages from
Blarlborongh House with its splendid escort of House-
hold Cavalry was in sight; without loss of time the
Commissioners and officers of State formed in line
_

_
and almost immediately after the arrival of the Prince
and Princess of Wales, who were accompanied by
their sons Prince Albert Victor and Prince George,
the royal progress began. Passing through the Fine
Art Gallery, in which a loan collection of pictures
that will delight the eyes of anglers has been
brought together, the procession entered the
southern aicade, an arched gallery about 800 feet
In length extending entirely across the Horticul-
tural Gardens. This building, which is devoted to the
Britibh Sea Fisheries, presents a vista of masts and
sails and boats aligned on both sides of the high poles
and spars reaching nearly to the roof, and used to dis-
play the size of seines and other kinds of fishing nets.
Pretty rigged models of trawlers, smacks, herring
boats, oyster-dredging boats were set out on the
central tables, highly-finished punts and skiffs for
river, fishing; canoes that may be folded up and packed
With one's luggage; dinghies that may be stowed
away on board fishing smacks; curraghs of primitive
eonstruction but good sea boats used in fishing off
the coasts of Ireland; folding life-boats; a whale-
boat that has seen service with its swivel harpoon
gun fixed at the bows and all its fittings complete—
these with crab and lobster traps, blocks, and tackle
of all kinds, lines and artificial bait for sea-fishing, and
more things of the sort than one can remember were
arranged for inspection hereabout.
When about half this gallery had been traversed
the line of route turned to the right, and the
avenue, which had been kept by the assistants of
the Fishmongers' Bargemaster, all gorgeous in
'leaflet coats, and each wearing on the left arm the
large shining metal Doggett's badge, was now
formed by as fine a body of "old salts" as could
be found on any shores, The banners of their town
guilds and companies and other devices showed that
all the fishing districts, if not all the counties of
&gland and Wales, Scotland, and Ireland had
their deputies among the men whose cheers when
they caught sight of the royal Princes and Princesses
Were of overpowering heartiness. Leaving the covered
Way in which these 400 "toilers of the sea " were
fathered, the procession entered one series of the
IToreign and Colonial Courts. The first was that of
benmark, in which, owing to some of the exhibits having
been delayed by the frozen state of the Baltic, the show
Was not so large as it will be, if all the things expected
duly arrive. Adjoining is the Newfoundland Court,
With many models of ships engaged in the various
fisheries carried on in Arctic quarters, At the en-
trance to the Canadian Court was stationed a North
American Indian, in feathers and deer-skin dress and
inocassins, who has served as guide and attendant to
some of the Royal Family on fishing expeditions in
Canada. Conspicuous in the centre of this court was
troplie of fish products topped by a beaver and a
Stand of the flags of the various provinces. In the
United States Court, which lay to the right, life-sized
figures showing how whaling is carried on, a full-sized
east of a monster " squid " or sucker devil-fish high in
air, and an old "bull " seal with a dozen " cows " and
Bottle pups around him, were the most prominent
exhibits.
And now the procession entered another long arcade,
tunnel-like in shape, but in shape only, for the interior
, Is of a pearly whiteness, and 53 bright as migfit be
When the light coming ithrough the glass sides of the
building had struggled through the atmosphere of a
Murky, rainy day in London. It is in this gallery
that the British inland fisheries are illustrated, and
the models and exhibitors' cases, stocked with gaudy
end " well dissembled " flies and other "slender watery
Stores" of the angler's art, are ranged at the sides,
leaving a clear middle space from end to end, such as
Was needed for the procession and ceremony of the
clay,
At the end filled by the Royal dais were seats for
the diplomatic body, Ministers of State, and other
Persons to be specially provided for, and within this
enclosure the fluttering of helmet plumes, the sheen of
gold lace on uniforms or levee coats, the turbans of one
or two Indian visitors, the peculiar red-crowned hat
of a Chinaman, and the light-coloured costumes in
Which many of the ladies had ventured out, gave a
more gala-like appearance to the scene than was
rlotieeable in other parts of the building, where the
sombre tone of dark costa and cloaks, provoked by the
'miserable weather, threw into stronger contrast the
red dressse of her Majesty's Yeomen of the Guard, and
elsewhere the yet brighter liveries of the Royal
Watermen.
There was a brief halt of the procession while the
Newhaven fisher-girls presented the Princess of Wales
With a silver model of a Newhaven fishwife, this
Pretty trifle being a cunningly contrived pepperpot.
Other foreign representatives of the fishing industry
Were a party of white-capped Boulogne fisher-girls;
While future fishermen, or at all events future seamen
for our own vessels were represented by a body of
fine lads from the Arethusa. Slowly, now, the
Procession moved up the narrow aisle left by
the thickly-packed throng on both sides of the
arcade, until at length the dais was reached. There
Was doubtless much that was rare and rich in the
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tiPhol—sieTy--Tthe Royal"dais,but to those watching
the spectacle from the arcade the dais only became
really interesting when all this was hidden by the
courtly figures that formed a semicircle, with the
ladies and gentlemen of the Royal Households form-
ing a second line behind. As they all stood here
While the speeches were being read and the short
lzusical programme gone through, there was time to
note the skill with which the background and floral set-
ting of the scene had been managed. Above the high
crimson canopy festoons of many-tinted fishing-nets
Were disposed, while encircling the dais were rose trees
and azaleas, and choice exotics in full bloom. The
P W Prince of ales, the Duke of Connaught, the Duke
cf Albany, the Duke of Cambridge, Prince Edward of
Saxe-Weimar, and the Duke of Peck were all in
acarlet military uniforms, the Duke of Edinburgh
in his Admiral's uniform, and the Princes Albert,
*Victor, and George in midshipmen's uniforms,
Riving the relief presented among soldiers' coats by
the navy blue. Alternately with the Princes stood
the Royal ladies, the Princess of Wales in a much-
admired costume of black velvet, embroidered
With, small rose-buds, and trimmed With sable,
413 d wearing the deep red wing of a sea bird in
the dark, neat, close-fitting princesse bonnet; the
Duchess of Edinburgh, in a handsome dr,ess and
dolman of navy blue and gold; Princess Christian, in
!‘ costume of bright purple; the Duchess of Connaught,
In a dark dress and viiite, with forget rne-nots in the
bonnet; the Duchess of Albany, looking very charm-
ing in a delicate clove-coloured arrangement; and the
• Princess Mary, Duchess of Teck, in a dark dress with
becoming touch of light blue in the bonnet. All
'laving reached their places,
The Duke of Richmond and Gordon, KG., Chair-
Irian of the General Committee, said,--
May it please your Royal Highness,—The purpose
...sof the International Fisheries Exhibition, which your
4toyal Highness is graciously pleased to open to-day
0/1 behalf of Her Majesty the Queer, is to illustrate
the pilesent and past condition of one of the most
ancient, extensive, and important of industries, and
to promote that careful collection and discussion of
!acts by means of which alone we can hope to deal,
Ha a satisfactory manner, with the many difficult
Practical and scientific problems connected with fish
and fisheries. These buildings, which, large as they
are, have proved hardly adequate to contain the
vast contributions which have poured in upon us, are
Stored with the animal productions of the teas and
rivers of all parts of the habitable globe, and with this
taultitudinous contrivances devised by human in•
gebuity for their capture. Every article of commerce
Yielded by fisheries is represented, and the agencies by
Which these articles are transported, distributed, and
Prepared for our use are exemplified. On our pre-
tnises the consumer may not only become acquainted
With the organization of a fish market, but may form
a Judgment, lamed on practical examination, of the
vast possibilities open to judicious fish cookery, The
various modes of preserving and multiplying aquatic
animals, which come under the designation of fish
Pniture, will be seen in action; while those who are
Interested in fishery law and in the history of fishing
Will find that the subject of their studies has not been
neglected. It has been our especial aim to direct the
attention of the public at large to the perils and hard-
'tnPa necessarily connected with the mode of life of
those
sea fishermen by whose labours they profit so
large. and we are rot without hope that the creation
ni, a general interest in their affairs may have a favour.
tlole influence on the condition of the fishing popula•
nn- The melancholy loss of life suffered by seafaring
People may certainly be diminished by the use of life-
ea,ving apparatus. The unprecedentedly large prize
Which we have offered for the beat lifeboat has atimu-
asted the ingenuity of inventors, and we are able to
"gore!' the public the opportunity of examining an un-
tlualled collection of lifeboats and life-saving apparatus.
ie obviously undesirable that the many experts
whwill be present during the exhibition should go
away without being afforded the opportunity of ex-
Changing views on the complicated and disputed
rhations which arise in cornexion with fish and
tjaerieß • and we therefore propose that an Interna-
_ onal Fishery Congres., for the discussion of such
luattere, shall be held during the exhibition. It
nuld have been impossible for ins to have got to-
-1,791er anything comparable to the great mass of
2a;ecte illustrative of fisheries which we are able to
7zliirbit without the countenance which has been
,tc,C,o°dad to us by Her Majesty's Government, and
FaYl.ut the generous spirit in which our applications
Luf aid, supported by the Foreign and Colonial Offices,
•“kve been met by the Governments of foreign nations

and those of our colonies. The contributions to the
exhibition derived from these sources must be seen
and studied if their magnitude and importance are to
be propcily apprtciated. We desire to take this
earliest public opportunity of offering our thanks to
the respective Governments and to their able and
zealous representatives in charge of the vast and vain.
able collections which have been entrusted to our care.
Our thanks are also due to those Colonial Govern-
ments, I üblic bodies, and private supporters who have
not only made munificent donations to the general
funds of the exhibition, but, also, following the pre-
cedent of the Exhibitions of 1851 and 1862, have
become gusrantors to a large amount, and
have thereby enabled us to carry out our
undertaking. Finally, Sir, permit us to make
our grateful acknowledgments to yourself and
to your Royal brother the Duke of Edinburgh for
the unwearied interest which your Royal Highnesses
have taken in our work; and we desire to offer our
especial thanks for the very powerful and effectual
support which your Royal Highness has, from the first,
been pleased to give to an undertaking which, we
trust, may not only promote the interest of fisheries,
or fishermen, and of fish consumers, but may also
confer a lasting benefit ontthe seafaring population all
over the world.

The Prince of Wales, whose voice could be heard by
those far down the arcade, replied,
My Lord Duke, my Lords and Gentlemen,—lt gives
me great pleasure to open this International Fisheries
Exhibition on behalf of the Queen, although I feel
assured that it is a matter! of sincere regret to all
present that her Majesty finds herself unable to under-
take a duty which would have afforded her much
gratification to have pegiirmed. In view of the rapid
increase of the population in all civilized countries, and
especially in these sea•girt kingdoms a profound interest
attaches to every industry which affects the supply of
food; and, in this respect, the harvest of the sea is
hardly lees important than that of the land. I share
your hopes that the exhibition now about to open
may afford the means of enabling practical fishermen
to acquaint themselves with the latat improvements
which have been made in their craft in all parts of the
world ; so that without needless destruction, or avoid-
able waste of any kind, mankind may derive the
fullest possible advantage from the bounty of the
waterc. lam glad to hear that your attention has
been directed to the condition of the fishing popula-
tion. It is a subject in which my brother, the Duke
of Edinburgh, was led to take a particular interest
during his tenure of office as Admiral Superintendent
of the Naval Reserve; and, as he is compelled to be
absent during the sittings of the Congress to which you
allude, I shall have the pleasure of reading a paper on
this topic which he has prepared at its first meeting, Life-
boats and lifeesaving apparatus undoubtedly fall
strictly within tbe province of a fishery exhibition;
but I may congratulate you on the circumstance that,
without overstepping your proper limits you have
been able to confer a benefit, not only on all fishermen
and all sailors by profession, but also on all who travel
by sea; and in these days of rapid and extensive loco-
motion this means a large proportion of civilized man-
kind. On behalf of the Queen, I add my thanks to
those which you tender to the Governments of foreign
nations and of our colonies for their generous co•opera-
tion. And to their representatives, whose untiring
exertions you so justly acknowledge, I offer not only
thanks, but an English welcome.
When the cheering with which this speech was
received had ceased the large assembly grew quiet, as
the Archbishop of Canterbury stepped forward to the
centre of the dais and offered a prayer specially corn.
posed for the occasion and in;these words,—Almighty
God, Maker of all things, by whose gracious gift
fish are multiplied innumerably in the waters; who
haat made man to have dominion over the works
of ,Thy hand, subjecting to him even whatsoever
walketh through the paths of the sea; who by Thy
Son Jesus Christ didst fill the nets of the Disciples
when they had toiled all the night in vain ; vouch-
safe to bless the work hese begun in Thy name,
and prosper it still unto the ciue reverence and using
of Thy gifts, the comfort of Thy poor, and the health
and help of all people. Thou who dost instruct man
in discretion, and dost teach him, make the skill of
each nation to be the gain and vantage of all, that we
may timely gather and thankfully enjoy the teeming
harvests of the seas ; through Jesus Christ, our Lord.
Amen.

The collect "Prevent us" and the Lord's Prayer
'ollowed.

The prayers over, the "Old Hundredth" hymn was
impressively sung by Mr. Barr.by's choir.
The Prince of Wales then said,—" In the Queen's
name, I declare this exhibition now open."
_ _

Almost before the cheers which rang out when this
announcement was made had died away Her Majesty's
State Trumpeters gave tongue, and some of those
present fancied they could hear the boom of the
cannon in Hyde Park which fired a Royal salute in
honour of the event.

Again faces were turned to the orchestra at the
opposite end of the building, where the singers and
band were placed, as the spirited chlir of 400 voices
struck up the "Marche Cortege" from Gonnod's
Beim de Saba When the chorus "Ye nations," from
the Hymn of Praise had been sung the procession
left the dais and wound its way back to the entrance,
passing, however, in its return between the Nor-
wegian and Swedish Courts, tough the Bel-
gian, where some Ostend fishergirls scattered rose-
leaves before the Royal ladies and presented the
Princess of Wales with a bouquet specially sent from
Ghent. In the Netherlands Court were half-a-dozen
Dutch fisherwivee, wearing their bright silver mirror-
like cab ornaments. From this court the procession
got on the route by which it had come, and returning
to the entrance, after a perambulation extending over
nearly half a mile of galleries, their Royal Highnesses
left the building.