The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1863-12-29 00:00:00

mouth who tarried on • "Velar trade in &hint for bait
for lobster pots, and by these insane great quantities of
small fish were destroyed. In answer to Mr. laeharee:
witness stated that the paean, a an Act to prevent
small oysters being taken- would preserve oyster beds.
He thought some excellent oyster beds might be made
in the Fleet. He suggested that there should be some
re.triction in fishing in shallow water, at Certain Mebane
of the year, beam.. it was there that the spawn leen
' deposited. He had DO objection to fishing with • hue,
but wished to prevent seine fishing.
Mr. Him= thanked Mr. Thompson for his informa-
tion. and, in addresMng the fishermen, said that Her
Majesty had tanamissioned him and his colleagues to
Inquire into the Hate of the fieherke, to ascertain
whether the supply of fish here was incresiethg, whether
it leas remaining the lame as formerly, or whether it
was falling off. (Several voices: No; it is Increasing)
Further, they were ordered to aacertain whether any
of the modes of fishing now practised were injurious to
the interests of the fishermen, by carping the destruc-
tion of the brood Altogether the inquiry was for the
purpose of
_promoting the interests of the fishermen.
Joearlf Bourne said he had been engaged for More
than 50 years in mackerel and herring seining. He
thought there were as many fish in Weymouth Bay now
as when be was a boy; but there were now four times
as many in the West Bay. He mostly fished in the
latter place for mackerel and herrings. Along the
Chesil Beach the" team" was used for red mullet, and
that fish had increased, but flounders and soles were
very learn.: The Chairman: Ito you catch any kind of
fish I—Witness : Yes; sometimes &porpoise. (Laughter.)
Our nets are made to catch all fish from a sprat to a
whale. (Laughter.) —The Chairman: You never caught
• whale, I ruppoes?—Witness : No. The number of
fiat fish had greatly fallen off on the Sinallmouth
Sands, which be ettributed to the erection of the
Breakwater. In the teem seines the mesh in the oat-
side wings was 7 lashes—from knot to knot. They
were 70 to SO fathoms long and 14 feet deep. There
was no bunt or pocket. Such • net would cost before
It to work shout CSCI. Mackerel seines were about 50
fathoms long, and the deepest part, "the bunt." was
about 58 feet, which was laden with lead and stonea Bath
net would coat 2100. There were ten seines at Wyke now,
hut he could remember when there was only one.
Perhaps there might be 80 seines between Portland and
Bridport, 'The number of fishermen had greatly
increased, especially since smuggling had been stopped.
They and the coast guards were on very good terms.
No one looked after the meshes of the nets. They
could Ulie what ones they liked. The mackerel seine
was a sit or seven inches meth in the outside
and about 2j inches in the bent. They naught a good
many sprats about October, hut did not fish for whiting
in the West Bay. In reply to Kr. Lefevre witness said
the herring season commeneed when the fishermen
began to catch them. Some of them got a herring net,
but it would not pay. .They caught them in a seine net.
it. did not know that mackerel had decreased. They
generally caught that fish in April, and continued up to
October. In reply to the Chairman withers said if
:several of the sunken wrecks were blown op or re-
moved they would be able to fish much better.
BicuoaaWiwslis, •fishermanof 50years'experience,
quite coincided with the evidence adduced. He fished
with • seine in Weymouth Bay, catching fiat fish,
mactereL dabs, plaice and soles. Very often • few small
fish would get into the net, it could not be avoided,
but they were pin into the sea again. Very few were
left. on the shore as food for villa

Mr THouettog did not comifain of the Wyks fisber,
men in this respect, they took more care. It was the
Weymouth men that were so negligent.
In furtherezaminstion. witness stated that he had not
seen any decrease in fish in Weymouth Bay, but they lied
fallen off on the Eknallmouth Benda, The Breakwater
had taken mug all the .and, leaving only mud and
shingle. There were now not sufficient fish eaueht to
send sway; they %mean sold in Weymouth. None were
sold to lobster catchers, end the only ones taken well,
those which were saleable. In reply to the Chairman
witness said there were several wrecks up and down the
beach • and sometimes they threw people out of getting
£5O, besides doing £5 or I:10 damage to the nets. There
were three places in particular in the West Bay, and
one had been there since the memory of men, and done
thousands of pound,' dainage. It was supposed to be
an old wreck, and was in eight fathoms of water. It
meld not be got at without a diving bell, and would
cost too ninth for the fishermen to attempt to remove
themselves,
THOMAS SPRACILLIN, who had been s fisherman for 30
years, said he fished for red mullet, or anything else,
In the West Bey. More fish were caught in Weymouth
Bay when there was an easterly wind then when there
MIA • westerly wind. He could remember when 8;00
or 9,00 D had been netted. Since the Breakwater had
been formed the westerly winds had drove the fish out
of Weymouth Buy.
THOMAS VTR, who bad been engaged for 40 years In
various kinds of firhery, spoke of the defames in
silver whiting, which he thought was owing to
more people being engaged in taking that fish.
The oyster trade had greatly decreased, which was
caused by east country vessels taking away the
spawn ; if they had not done so there would have
been sufficient oysters for all the Weymouth and
Portland boats. The men engaged in the trade in this
neighbourhood were most anxious to protect young
oysters. They had never tried to form beds as they
would be stolen.
JONAH Polecat', who said he was • curiosity ratchet,
Mated that the Breakwater made a great differome to
fish. It was better for them, but the nets could not be
used an well. Small nets did much damage to fish.
Weymouth used to ham two or three of the best oyster
beds In the West of England, but they had been de-
stroyed. He was of opinion that a law 'should be
passed not to alMw an oyster smaller than a penny to
be sold. The beds would not bees been destroyed if
only the eatable oysters had been taken army. About
three years ago they were as thick as gram, but vessels
dredged three seasons following over the same place for
them

Min Wwirrte advocated the removal of wrecks and
other impediments to &biog. He, however. was of
opinion that fish wee.. plentiful now as formerly. He
thought it was a great hardship to the poor that Lord
Ilchester claimed the mole right of fishing in the Fleet,
In reply to the Chairman. several people recom-
mended that the Corn 11l iaIIOOSTS should endeavour
to remove the sunken wrecks in the West Bay, and the
inquiry terminated.

MAIDEN NEWTON.—The church choir of this
parish were, recently invited by the Rev. F. Fisher
to tea at the rectory. A very pleasant evening was
sigrzt: during which • selection of carols, anthems,
ke., were performed by the choir in their natal
style. We are glad to notice that oar excellent ranter
Ii working with such spirit and success, and we
trust that an increasing appreciation of his labours
will encourage him to continue among us.
MISSIONARY MRITING.—A meeting on behalf of the
Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign
Parts took plats, in our schoolroom on Monday. the
21st inst. There was • crowded attendance, and • large
number of clergy on the platform, including the Von.
Arebdeaeon Binctuary, Rev. S. Lane. Rev. F. Fisher,
Rev. J. Williams, (S.D.) Rev. Watson, Rev. F.
Baker. Rev. R. Pinckney. Rev. G. K. Weston, and
Rev. J. P. F. Davidson. Tbe deputation was the Rev.
H. Suitable, who, se well its the Archdeacon (chair-
man.) Rev. S. Made, Rev. F. Fisher, Rev. Wateon,
and 1t.,. J. Williams, gave most interesting addresses.
Most ,4 them were illmstrated by diagrams and maps of
New Zealand, Australia, India, Borneo, Sc.

•
MIA RIIOUTH. —On' the evening of the 21st instant
the drum and Me band, reoentlY orinniund, Pinlnd for
the lirst time in public, and considering the short
training they have had, acquitted themselves very
creditably.

WHREH &M.-. INDEPENDENT CHAPEL-The Rev.
James Key, of Lowestoft'. Suffolk, having lately re-
turned from Ramie, where for some yams he had been
pastor of on Independent Chapel near St. Petersburg,
has reaseived and accepted a very gratifying and unani-
mous intitation from the members of the Independent
Chapel, of this town, to be their pastor. The rev.
gentleman will commence his ministerial labours on the
first Sunday in the new year.
Comm PErri SIMONS, December n.-Before
0. W. Ferrer and J. Mowletn, &qrs., and
the Rev. G. V. Garland - Thomas Gould, beer-house
keeper, of Bent Regis, was fined Is tiel. and costa for
having his hones open for the sale of beer, at 10 35 on
the 4th instant, on the complaint of P.C. Adams.—
James Meader of Swanage was charged with having on
the 30th November assaulted P.C. Florence whilst in
the execution of hie duty at Swamp, and was sent to
prison for 1 month. The same defendant was com-
mitted for 14 days. for assaulting PC. Phort, on the
same nay—Frank Turner was fined 10e. and 7a 6.1.
coats, for being drunk and riotous at Swung*, on the
13th, on the information of P.C. Flortnee.—Jceeph
Byrnes was charged by P.C. Short with being drunk on
the 13th, at Langton, fined se. and 7s. 6d.—Phillip
Whittle was fined £5 and costa, for shooting a
at Winfrith, on the complaint of P.S. Gran?, am:lt
gun to be forfeited.
POOLE.-Perrt Bliemoss, Thursday.-Beforethe
Mayor (G. Balben, jun.), EL Mitßeet, B. Harris, T.
WILIAM, and J. W. Martin, &gm-Superintendent
Gifford summoned Charles Collins, landlord of the
Wheatabeaf publichonse, for an infringmemt of the
Beerhouse Aft, In unlawfully keeping his bones open
for the eels of beer on Sunday sweating, at 25
minutes past eleven. -P.C. Brown stated that he
entered defendant's house at the time mentioned,
and found several men present, and beer on the
table.-11r. Collins, in defence, called Mr. Jones, • I
draper, of Wimborne, who stated that he was in
defendant's hones on business, and that the men who
were present when the policemen entered the house I
este oh the point of departing, as Mrs. Collins had
refused them more beer. The policeman was
as to the time, it losing 12 minutes past eleven olcrropef
instead of 25 minutea-The charge WM al•011.1.0d.
--Superintendent Gifford than entered into an argu-
ment as to the dismissal of this case, and was desired
by the Bench to desist. A magistrate then ques-
tioned if Mr. Gifford knew his duty, and whether it
would not be advisable for this latter gentleman. in
future, to conduct all the judicial business instead of
the Bench.

A:POTHER PRIMPS DI TenseLa.—Jobn Tlicomp."
eon, landlord of the Old Inn, was charged with • ,
similar offence on the morning of Sunday last.— ,
P.C. Brown said he entered defendant's home at
38 minutes past 12 o'clock on Sunday morning, and
sew • person sitting in the room dunking.—
Defendant stated that the beer was drawn before'
12 o'clock, and furthermore that the man was given
the beer with his supper for his kindneee in render-
ing defendant some slight swam& The Bench
aocepted this plea,and disabused the summons- I
UstAvrirou.v ftsuovmo GOODS. Charles
Francis was summoned by Mr. George Oldie, bowel
asset, for unlawfully and frandently removing
away certain goode from • dwelling house in West-
street, in order to avoid a distraint for arrears of
rent, defendant thereby incurring a penalty of sir
months imprieonnient —Mr. Curtis stated that kie
was agent for • great deal of household property,
i and n consequence of the vary frequent ceourrenos
of cease like the resent, where tenants Moored
their goods to arced • dietraint, be was compelled
to bring the present charge. In couseqnsmee of
some doubt as to deludes* being new In the
sommi reneual the are was diadems&