The Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1860-11-14 00:00:00

MERCANTILE MARINE ASSOCIATION.

,Yesterday, the, usual monthly meeting of the Liver-
poOl Mereantile Marine Service Association was held in
the romna of Cie tissaciationi Water-street. Captain
if. Y. Wird, deputy-Chairniinii *as- in the chair and
iheie Wefe. present Captains J. t. Tied/ dot Mite', IL
Cunning; Joseph Coinforth, George Rode, 4Jharler
Semple, Richard Wren, George Ginman.,. John Ord,

William Paterson, A. Montgomery,. Henry Ponsonby,
_ .

Griffin, Scott, A. Donnell, D. B. Morton, y Rutherfoid;
Mantra Greeth R. Goble, Hardy, Finlay, and Moir ;
C. Purnell, 1:4., tames R. Gammon, Esq., R. Lamont,
E. 1.1 Baker, jun., Esq., George Bell Galloway, C.E.,
F. H. Alper, Esq., William Matted, Esq., and Mr.
M'Keau.

E. J. Thompson, Esq., read the following report :

_
"Since the last meeting of the members of the asso-
• elation the Connell has had tinder its consideration several
iniportant Matteis &Mated with the service.
"Having had its attetitien called to the hardship occa-
sioned by the constant arrest of Masters, officers, and
ships, on accOnnt of the seizure by re/entre offers of
damn quantities of tobacco found secreted on' board
vessels, and particularly to' the ease of Captain Chevers,
of the ship Onward, Wad' Was arrested for tobacco which
he had reported, the council laid a staletnent upon the
subject before the Board of Trade, with a list of eases,
selected at random, which had occurred of the seizure
of vessels at this port, and urged that the attention of
the board should be gilen not only to the extreme rigour
of such proceedings, as in the' ease of Capt. Chevers, but
also to the unnecessary hardship, inconierrience, and ex-
pense which attended the greater number of arrests. The
council also submitted that, in the revision of the Mer-
chant Shipping Act, steps should be taken to prevent,
as was shown to be the case, vessels of the largest size,
and even mail steattiers owned in this country, from
berg seized and delayed for the most trivial violation of
the revenue laws committed without the knowledge or
sanction of the owners ttt officers, and likewise to pre-
vent the recurrence of such cases as that of which Cap-
tain Chevers complained. The Board of Trade, in reply,
forwarded a report upon the subject, addressed to that
departnient; by the Commissioners of Customs, in which
the commissioners state that they have issued instruc-
tions to the collectors and coriffittellers of Customs,
strictly to caution the tide-surveyors and others against
arresting the masters of vessels in cases similar to that
of Captain, Chevers, without their express sanction.
" The Council subsequently brought under the atten-
tion of the Board of Trade the mode in which the fines,
in the dage's of tobacco seizure, are disposed of, and,
without desiring to. cast any reflection upon the character
of the revenue officers, respectfully submitted that the
present practice of giving the officers portions of the
fines placed temptation in the way of persons of com-
paratively small income, and was not likely to anictice
to the accuracy of their information, as it gave them a
direct pecuniary interest in procuring convictions.
Upon this rent the Commissioners of Customs state
that theY dd not see that it is advisable to make any
alterations, and any Wither action OR the part of the
association upon the subject dikt therefore wait until
Parliament again assembles.
"The council was represented by ten of its members,
at the opening of the Free Public Library presented by
Mr. Wm. Brown to the town of Liverpool. The council
desires to Call the attention of members to the wish of
Mr. Brown to establish in the building a museum of
naval architecture and it trusts that members will avail
theingellie of the truntereus opportunities they have of
adding, from all quarters of the globe, objects of inte-
rest connected with that Partial of Mr. Brown's noble
institution.

" Since the last meeting the report of the select conY-'
mitten of the House of Commons on merchant shipping
has been laid before Parliament. The council deeply
regrets that, although the questions affecting the ser-
vide ii,ere most-fully laid before the committee, the
report does not, to any extent, enter into the most im-
portant of these questions. One of the most prominent
and just complaints of the septic e has been the working
of the tribunals by which questions respecting The loss
or damage of vessels at sea are decided. They, possess
no one atifihrite by which every other class of questions
affecting men's prope4 eh'aractor, or liVelihood are
determined. They are neither 6ortite of equity, pre-
sided over by learned, impartial, and immovable judges,
nor courts of law wherein the verdict of a jury is con-
clusive as to facts in dispute. They are essentially
anomalous and unconstitutional in character, without
any Siandard of consistency or public appeal. The
council feels that Th 6 service has much reason to com-

plain of the mode hi AA almost its very eitistence
has been ignored in the rtpOrt of the committee. It
earnestly and sincerely trusts that °Very niemhet of it
wilt assist in the efforts which must now be made in the
Coming session of Parliament to obtain for it redress of
the grievances under wticli its fab'ours, recognition of it
as an honourable profession, and some share in the
management and regulation of its own business.

"The number of new members continues to increase.
In August there were 15 ; in September, 13, and in
October; 13. The total receipts in August were £37 Bs.
3d. irt September, £36 13s:;, and in October, £39 6s.
10d. But while the council congratulates the members
of the association upon the Steady progress thus shown
to be made, and the favourable comparison which these
figures bear with the corresponding statements of last year;
the subjects which have been treated of in this report
shoW Unritistakeably that very much has still to be done,
and that it is only by bringing the service together as
one body, by uniting it in one large and powerful asso-
ciation, to represent the whole voice of the service, that
its moral weight will be felt, and it will attain its proper
and legitimate position. With this feeling the council
aski every rdaster and officer of the port of Liverpool to
enrol himself a member' here, and to do his share of
the labour yet to be accomplished."
After some remarks from the chairman and others
present, the report was unanimously adopted. A vote
of thanks was passed to the ehairnian, and the meeting
broke up.

• , MR. AND MRS.- GERMAN REED, AND Mat. JOHN
PARS.Y.— It will be seen from the announcement else-
where that these talented and popular caterers for the
Piiblie.aninsenient Will commence their week's visit on
Monday &ening Week the26th), in the Concert-room
of St. George's-hall. As before, their stay is confined
to "one week only;" for on the and December they
have arranged to be at Rugby. As hundreds were
unable to obtain admission on the last occasion, we
would advise all who intend spending "an evening
with Parry" to apply early for tickets.
ExaatA.onniNialic CArrtnv.—On the forenoon of
Saturday list some of the fishermen resident at Acker-
gill, while pursuing their avocation in the bay, had
their attention directed to a large fish struggling and
plunging on the surface of the water, at no great dis-
tance from their boat: Presuming that the fish had got
attached to some of their lines, and that in consequence
it could easily be secured, they at once directed their
CoUtse towards it ; but a closer approach revealed to
theft suninse the true source of its annoyance. The
list, while B*i:timing neat the surface in search of prey,
had seized hold of some large bird, which it had partly
swallowed, but which it was tinabie, from the size
and energetic resistance' of its victim, to dreg be-
neath. The singular appearance of the widely-extended
wings of the bird, which frantically thrashed the water,
at one extremity, and. the occasional glimpse which was
obtained of the tail of the fish at the other, induced the
fishermen to believe that they had fallen in with some
rare nondescript, and the "sea-staff" was immediately
put in requisition to secure the the interesting prize.
By a dexterous use of this effective weapon the fish was
hooked and secured, and the whole affair incontinently
hauled in triumph over the gunwale. The principal
actor in this scene was then at once recognised as
an old acquaintance by the boat's crew. His jaws
were unceremoniously wretched open, and the bird,
still alive, released from its uncomfortable posi-
tion. The victim of this novel strait proved to
be a fine specimen of that large and powerful species,
the great northern diver (Colymbus Glacialis), a bird
unsurpassed for its speed and power in the water, which
it curtly leaves occasionally in the breeding season. It is
generally known on the north-east coast of Scotland,
where it occurs at intervals, as the "loon" or " ember
goose." The fish, which measured between three and
fedi* feet in length, is the Lop/alas Piscatorius of the
scientific naturalist, but known on the Caithness
coast as he " mersgam " or " °of" the latter pro-
bably a corruption of " wolf." Tt is also known
as the fishing.frog or angler, the latter name de-
rived from the singtilar manner in which it entices
its prey within reach. The mouth of this fish is
of extraordinary width, and from the top of its head
rises a series of delicate, stalk-like appendages, termi-
nated by glistening filaments, bearing a pretty close
resemblance to certain marine worms. The animal
remains stationary in some favourable position, and the
vibration of these appendages attracts small fishes, which
are at once seized upon and deposited in the capacious
maw of the Lophius. It is probable that the bird in
this instance had been deceived by this tempting lure
into thrusting its head into such dangerous proximity,
and that the fish had suddenly closed its jaws upon it,
and refused or was unable to relax its hold until it was
secured in the manner related above. The flesh of this
fish is held in no repute.—John 0' Groat Journal.
Oar readers have only to send their address to D.T.- Barry,
Esq„ 77 Regent-street, W., London, and they will receive
gratis and free by poet The "INVALIDS OWN GUIDE " or
Natural Restorer without Medicine or expense, of perfec.
digestion, strong nerves, sound lungs and refreshing
sleep, to
the most enfeebled, insuring the removal of indigestio (dys-
pepsia), constipation, sickness at the stomach, epilepsy, para..
lysis, debility, nervousness, palpitation, cough, asthma, con-
sumption, dropsy, flatulency, diarrhoea, dysentery, biliousness,
fevers, sore throats, catarrhs, colds, noises iii the ears,
rheumatism, gout, impurities, eruptions, hysteria, neuralgia.
1
irritability, sleeplessness, acidity, palpitation, heartburn,
'ilzaclache, despondency, cramp, spasms, miking fits, broil.
chitis ; also children's complaints. " ottp..estionably the safest
(ii i( to health."
CONSUMPTION, COUGH, ASTHMA, AND BRONCHITIS CURADI.E.
—" I believe that the preparation of Balsam of Horehound
and Aniseed (as prepared by lir. Martin,. of 22, Copperas-
hill, Liverpool,) will prove of more value, In cases of bron-
chitis and incipient consumption, than any other remedy
extant. It relieves the most irritating cough in a few minutes;
and, although it contains IZO preparation of opium, it induces
sound. and rffreshiny sleep, soothes the nervous system, and
restores the healthy action of the lungs." Recommended above
all other medicines by Sir Alexander Tralles—see Thomson's
.31ateria 3fedica, page 175, vol. 2. The following is from Dr.
Brett, the eminent chemist :—" I consider the balsam of hore-
hound and aniseed, as prepared by Mr. Martin, an elegant
and efficient cough remedy, and I fully agree with Sir Alexan-
der Tralles and Dr. Anthony Todd Thomson, that, in conjunc-
tion with cod liver oil, it is an admirable remedy for con-
sumption and delicate constitutions."—R. 11-Brett, Ph. Dr.,
M.R.C.S., late Lecturer on Chemistry and Medical Jurispru-
deuce, Liverpool Royal Infirmary. The balsam of horehound
and aniseed is prepared only by T. Martin, chemist, 22, Cop-
peras-hill, Liverpool ; hut, owing to its great and increasing
sale, agents have been appointed in all principal towns and
cities. It can be procured wholesale from Relines and Co.,
Edinburgh and York, from Sutton and Co. London, West-
macott, Manche-ter, and wholesale and retail from the manu-
facturer, as above. PriCe, . Is. lad_ ~ 2s. 9d., and 48. 6d. each.
The lozenges in box at ls. licl4 f. foe by post, li, 6d.