The Express.
London, England, 1852-08-10 00:00:00

THE HERRING FISHERIES.

The herring fisheries of the United Kingdom
promise during the present year to be abundant in their
Traduce, and ouch produce promises to be excellent in its
quality. That, in some seasons, adverse physical circum-
stances, affecting the health of animals on land, deteriorate
their quality as NttleiCS of human consumption, is a fact
well known to philosophic dealers in beef and mutton • and
that eirmunstancis of • like nature affect and deteriorate
the quality of the finny inhabitants of the ocean is a fact
not less kaown to the philosophic fishmonger. For three
or four years past it has been noticeable that the
herrings consumed by the inhabitants of the metropolis have
not been of quality equal to those supplied to our market
for several years previously, and no rowan for accounting
for such change can be offered than to suppose that MIN
physical influence at work in the sea hu had the egad
referred o; which physical influence in the present year
seems removed. It would be a matter of welcome, also, to
the population of London if, simultaneously with an im-
provement in quality, a better mode of curing should also
be introduced. Of late years, curing fish of all
kinds has been a branch of trade in the port of
London—a business which was formerly carried on, as
it ought to be still, solely at the localities where the
fish are caught. The process of curing fish should
be commenced immediately after they have been brought
on shore, and before the work of decomposition has super-
vened. This is the mode adopted in all places which have
gained any celebnty for " cure," such as at Aberdeen, Yar-
mouth, Ftndon, Peterhead, Ontenock, and various other
places in England and Scotland. In London, however, the
fish which are submitted to the process of " curing." bays
in general reached a high state of decomposition, arising to
somr extent from the time taken up in bringing them from
the coasts where they are caught, and also in great measure
attributable to the fact of their frequently being the " re-
fuse" and otherwise unsaleable portion of the cargoes of
fresh fish brought to London for disposal to the large fish-
mongers and other dealers, and kept till such dealers have
been all fully supplied. These cargo remainders are
bought at a comparatively trifling cost by certain low
dealers in the Minorite and East Smithfield, who are the
great monopolists of the herring curing London trade,
and the advanced state of decay at which the fish must
have arrived previously even to their coming into the
hands of these men, and submitted to the curative process'
is evident to the consumer not only from the tainted taste,
but from the dimness or dead appearance of the eyes,
and the extreme redness of the bone. llad the herring
been thoroughly fresh when attempted to be cured, the eye
would have cautioned fresh and bright in appearance how
long simmer kept, and the flesh white at the bone. In the
last visitation of cholera the bed effects of eating those
tainted bah were brought prominently before the public in
numerous medical reports ; and if nothing was dune then
to put a stop to the nuisance of exposing, and danger to the
lives of the lieges in selling them such trash, something
ought to be dune now. 'There is aa much necessity
for the labours of an inspector of such places as Clare-
market, the New-cut, Leather-lane &c., in order to
prevent the poor from being imposed upon by the sale
of tainted herrings, as there is for an inspector
at Smithfield and Newgate-market for the purpose
of acrutiussiog:the quality of butcher's meat. Nor is the
mode of cure adopted by these London curers lees objection-
able than their attempt to care that which is uncurable.
Even supposing them to have fresh fish to exercise their
operations on, they don't submit them to the eame length-
ened saltpetre process as dune elsewhere, and which has been
proved from the most extensive experience to be a necessary
ingredient and portion of the art; no, the Minimal' curer
uses little else than commas salt, and whereas in
other places no fish can be properly cured and ready
for market within the space of three weeks or a
month, the Jew "curer" aecomplishes the same feat
in a single eight. Brought from the vessel in the after-
noon to the " curing factory," they are steeped for a few
hours in brine, then hurriedly submitted to a suet of
" smoke-drying " for a few other hours, and are selling
next day in all parts of the metropolis by the costermon-
gen as "fins Yarmouth bloaters," being really believed by
the purchasers to have been eared at Yarmouth. In rele-
nts°e to the cemparative qualities of the herrings brought
from the 11'&601111parts of the United Kingdom, and ex-
poshl for sale in London, the common consent of the inha-
bitants oldie districts abovameaticeed, Clare-market, &c.,
give the preference to the Yarmouth, and eschew
the Scotch ones. Connoisseurs, however, and the rich,
prefer those from the western seas and lochs of
Scotland to any is the weeld, mad the high quality of the
Leak Fyne herrings is well tuiewa—a quality in which all
them 'aught in the western see ton great extent partake.
Herrings taken in the stretch of ma extending from Leith
harbour to put the coast of Norfolk are all of • quality
identical with each other, and differing from those brought
from the west of Scotland ; and from the mere circumstance
of the mast of Norfolk having from time immemorial chiefly
supplied the metropolis with herrings, it has become a
matter of billet with the commas people, that none are
worth eatipg except those from Yarmouth. It is a remark,
however, worth recording here that naturalists state that
both ilidand shell-fish (the later, such as oysters, crabs.
ac.) bred in the seas westward of any large island or coati.
nent are invariably of • quality superior to those bred in
seas to the eastward.

THE CHANNEL ISLANDS OYSTER FISHERIES.—The
mutual encroachments of the French and English oyster
iiimmen upon the eseigned territories of each other have
ninuntrequently formed matter of dispute between the two
sonstries end, although a boundary line was flied apes
by Ow ; Ineoraatioa4 regulation on the subject, and ow
Min heavy penalties prescribed tor transgression, violations
Keogh regulation still occur tie oonstantly as ever. Wallis
the last few weeks upwards of a dozen English vessels ham
been seized and earned into the French port of C
charged with transgrmaing the well-known limit=
lug to the regulation referred to, no French vowel has o
right to dredge for oysters beyond the distance of theft
leagues, er nine miles, from the shores of Brittany and
Nommody ; and no English mond hes, of course,
aoppose& nearer than three berms, or dos selitm,
to the ,trench coast for the same plumes. That
'iambus of the law in this matter 11111614
take pine without the knowledge of the 1111111116, i OM to
be wondered in--namely, La the ease of vowels KMm w
other of the two ementriee haggoaleg to traesgress the Mem
by the hewn of MU a adle or so ; but it b Ldlilloolt to
easeelve thee Wilk= Ineeez=le should be moion.
ally accent. without the limbs of dm
immigrant. It Is senhemdly • MM.:tins br blow
met to meson dieting,m with a precise degree of wrap
racy, but, taking that portion of the coast of Jersey name.
France as the point from which to meunr• to within three
leagues of the shore of Brittany and Normandy, all diS.
*silty is done away with, and transgressions upon to=
territory to the extent of between two sad three
booms perfectly unpardonable. The distance hem
Gerry, Jersey, to Costumes, ea the French meet, is
chess 18 Wien so that Beglish vessels are peehibited hem
ptm bored miles ben the Jassy ellen in the dhoti=
if ikons, eldle they Gan peened to me peat • distance as
Obey caper he any seat dinettes, provided always that
Obey key dm the alone et Pewees the premise
already ~
odd When we einslille that • peat mean et
latearay bilk Is urineend lleglend oispadest wpm
thast=i, and passion et their innteal view
eenetent violation ef the inisnielksal kw re-
lating to each Undo beeemes • matter men et
smuttiest than may et bet sight appear. Pdar Sc
when the regaled= referred to was speed upon between
the twe esontethhie meet
to re
phase even te the
ehabilie et WIMP west to take plus between the
honk lad fisherman when kind within emit
other's gremair.mmissary justice la the shape of Lyn&
law being then the ady law appealed to. Now, however.
' anthesled in • v eivilised • the din

Ilia, mil a spirit,
phials sot den_ posisolbe w 'bidding of blood
but it is • phy. thee -1110 law should be totally hos-
wetly@ is dkaalabg the author of offenses still eon-
mitts&

BOOTS WALLS RAILWAY.—The drat of September
has beet Axed ae tt» day of opening for the line west of
Swansea. The neermaary arrangements are being rapidly
sad se steht Is entertained that all will be
:Zilad dlbay that parte& Mien the extemiss for sale will
be to Canter:be& TY new tabular bridle meg the W
M wa
if
les bees Mad to earsart mast
3:64tba =beat patWelees, As dedeetim et dm
.4ise
sea 1.1.61.11
la the Ovent Winkles Belway, which has just
esseinest Its elaMd• mimemintlea on the main aid
conning lines.
MiTROPOLITAN Raliwatiamwriott.—Yeeterday,
M • vattetian in this most before Master in Chancery
w•
i a k a al
.bidire et at
a Mr of
the
again
b.bir 'ant:sent,
the
b• einem approved of the . Cre-
dimwit sill be paid toe of the funds in bead,
which resins say sell on the Marebeidwe menmessery.
This will bra the drat railway sebum eat ef the amidst-
dimes elbpriag of the mania of sadmsed Ow settle-
ment sailer the Joint Stock Cemijssfse Whadiall'UP
that may he now what is celled semedelely wound up."
IWOSOORILINTB FOB TUB PIIIOIIIOI7ON OF SONlA-
asta TILIIIIIIAPHS.—Aa Lemma pin is proposed for
this dmillweied purpose by Meal( dm 60PF" wire'',
gotta semis es* simaisal emering, ia • metallic casing
Mbe sewed is the (molar MOON of a link iron chain,
ass aegis be eapalde of protecting from 6to 10 luau-
WM 'km and me eitaM from 30 to 40. It is also pro- I
=to fix • Waft apparatus in water-tight bores at-
gt• buoys at miry ono or two miles, the wires in
the Maim les Wag sesseeted with the submarine wires
Itel•wo• as ee Massie dm line of telegraph, and to detect
sad repels defects by raising the cable to the surface.
81111,111 Y GARDEN& —No sooner has M. milieu
takes ORM from this deservedly popular place of amuse-
IMMts is belay out his new opera, than we find an equal
attreseies=sd in the mengsgement of the Glee and
y, who were so popular last season. They
madatreir hit appearanos yesterday evening, and were
received with every demonstration of welcome. Misses
?dement end Henderson sang some popular solo, and duets,
and the glees were given by the gentlemen—Mein.
Leffler, Young, and Heavers—with the best effect. There
were several encores, and, notwithstanding the uncertain
state of the weather, the gardens were fully and fashion-
ably attended.

THE WEATHER AND THE CROPS.
DI/max.—The wheat (Tope in the neighbourhood
of Darlington promise to be pretty abundant. Some trifling
damage has been dere by the late vi lent rains; the ear
being heavy, it is ha some plena much heat down, but it is
hoped that as they were tolerably well filled era this
happened, that less damage will be sustained than might at
first be expected. Other crops are looking remarkably
well. Many are complaining of the potato blight having
shown itself, particularly in early kin Utahans
Adrsr-
riser.
Bneoreittnz.—There are still several held of hay re-
maining to be harvested is this dist, ict (Bridgnorth). Oats
have been cut in many places; en.l if the weather holds up
favosrably, a great bre itith or barley will be reaped during
this and the neat week. Oats, barley, and wheat, have
ripened all together in this vicinity, and some trouble to
engage men is already experienced. Theesotatees are dis-
eased to a very serious extent. —Here/Ord Times.
YOKKGHIIIII.—The late beautiful weather has served to
hasten on the harvest to a great extent, au that in the
urse tat ten days or a fortnight corn cutting will com-
mence generally. The appearance of all cereal crops is in
good throughout this district; late spring oats and
MMt souls, perhaps, be rather below the avenge. Wheat
mosses to yield well. Beans and peas are about an aver-
age crop. Potatoes are looking pretty well; a little more
rain would assist them materially. '1 he mangold, Swedes,
and other kinds of turnips have escaped the ravages of the
fly, and are coming on prosperously The recent emigre-
tion:of so many of our peasantry to America from this part,
hu caused labour I. be alma !ant and wages good, so that,
altogether, things weer a very pleasant aspect.— Yorkshire
man. Mr. John Whitfield, of Poileey, in the parish of
Calverley, has a field el oats which he commenced cutting
on Wednesday. We believe that a similar circumstance
has not happened at so early a period within the memory
of the oldest inhabitant" We are also informed that
such a crop has not been seen before in the same pariah.—
Lieu, Mercury.
Ilutteounantin.—Never in our recollection has so much
rain fallen in the first week of August, as in the present
year. Throughout the week we have had very heavy and
intermitted showers, both night nod day, which have
seriously checked the progress of the corn harvest, and, we
fear, have seriously damaged the wheat, both the standing
and the reaped. All the grains have come ripe together,
and with the exception or beans, which have partially
failed, the crops are considered abundant. We regret to'
observe that the •• glass" indicates a continuance of the wet
weather, and we fear that we shall have a protracted and
expensive harvest. The quality of both wheat and barley
is oonsidered good, and with favourable hat reetiag, would
probably be first-rate in quantity also. The hop plantations
continue to improve. As regards the potatoes, there is now
no doubt but that nearly all the early kinds have been ex-
tensively injured by disease. In our orchards, the prospect
is quite as good as was expected ; there will not be half an
average crop of apples or pears.-1 le. eford Times.
Bzuniausittan.—This week reaping has commenced
generally throughout the country. The crops vary conside-
rably, and we are afraid that in some places expectations,
as to the great bulk of corn, will not be realised. Some
fields of wheat present an appearance of bearing an unu-
sually heavy crop; but, on examination, it is found that
the ears are not well tilled, and in some cases the wheat
corns are poor and small. The complaint made by several
farmers of mildew is not without foundation ; at the same
time there is a large breadth of tine wheat which, we doubt
not, will turn out everything that could be wished. In
some districts the wheat crop is very heavy.—Bedford Times.
Kenv.—We regret to have to report an extensive blight
In the wheat, which has only been detected since the com-
mencement of harvest operations.—Surroy Standard.
Oxeoitueni ex.—Harvest operations have partially com-
menced in the neigh`aurhood of this city during the week
just ended. The crop of wheat, barley, and oats is very
heavy, and of good quality, although in some parts the corn
has been much injured by the heavy storms of rain and
hail. This (Friday) morning a very heavy shower came on,
and lasted ter some time, flooding several parts of the city.
The crop of beans in this neighbourhood, as indeed every-
where, is very indifferent; but the meadows are looking
beautiful, and lattermath bids fair to be a very heavy crop;
and the second crop of clover, as well as the turnips,
swedes, and other root crops, promise an abundance of keep.
We hear that hitherto the potato disease has not
shown itself to any very great extent in this neigh-
bourhood. Oxford Chronicle. Bieteseare—The har-
vesting of the Duke of Marlborough's flax crop,
at Tackley, was commenced last week. In this neigh-
bourhood the harvest is generally commenced, with every
prospect of an average crop. Wheets are in places some-
what blighted. The barley, pea, and oat crops are very fine.
Beans are not so beau was at one time thought they would
be, but still they are far under an average crop, and will in
many places pepsinee but about two quarters instead of five
or six to the acre. The grain is in excellent condition for
harvesting.—Northampton Mercury.
STATFORDSitilti.—The present reason has been in some
respects a peculiar one. The long drought in spring seemed
at one time to threaten the very existence of all crops • but
in bon the copious showers which descended wonder'fully
improved the pastures and gran crops, and the hay har-
vest, though late, has yielded, if not an average supply, yet
a very fair quantity of hay, and that of capital quality,
being generally secured in excellent condition. Turnips
and other green crops were, also, saved by the timely
supply of moisture ; and potatoes, many of which had
been cut down by a frost in the early part of June, re-
covered themselves in a most surprising manner. Speaking
of potatoes, ee regret to find that the disease has made its
appearance amongst them most unmistakeably. All des.
criptions, however, do not appear to suffer and we may,
therefore, indulge the hope that the destruction of this
most valuable root will sot be general. With respect to
cereal crops, at one time a very large harvest was antici-
pated, but the bright sunshine tied the intense heat of the
Wt month acted magically upon them, and we do not des-
pair, even in the face of the showery weather of the past
week, of a good and tolerably early harvest. Wheat has
filled surprisingly, and though the rain has partially laid
the crops, no serious injury his been done • and if the
weather takes up reaping will become gotten'. Oats, we
are glad to find, are a good crop generally, and as the price
keeps up, they will remunerate the grower. Barley also is
well reported of. Beans have failed, the yield, from
some cause or other, turning out exceedingly scanty.—
StafordsAire Advertiser.
DIRRYBIIIII2.—For a protracted series of weeks we have
been in the enjoyment of weather, generally speaking, of
the most favourable character for bringing to maturity the
various kinds of crops. Warm weather and genial sun-
shine have prevailed, not only in this district, but it seems
to be general all over the kingdom ; and underits influence
the hay, grain, and green crepe have made rapid and most
satisfactory progress. Hay harvest is now all but com-
pleted, and the yield has proved much more abundant than
some few weeks ago it could have been expected to be ;
fortunately, also, favoured by the fine weather, the harvest-
inioperations have been carried on under the moat favour-
ab • circumstances, and so far as we can learn, the princi-
pal ?onion of the crop has been got in in capital condition.
Grain crop of every description, m this district, have made
rapid proms* towards maturity ; and the cuttiettif oats has
bean commenced in several districts. Wheat is strong in the
ear, well filled, and it Is generally well reported of. Within a
short period back it has been ripening fast, and from the
strong and brightseinahne to which it his been exposed for
several weeks past little doubt need be entertained that it
will be found exultant in quality, should the harvestiug
season prove propitiout. It is true, that in not a few in-
dances where the crop has proved very heavy, the grain
has been partially lodged. by the violent showers to which
we have on several occasions lately been subjected ; still,
so far as apirancoe can warrant, there is every reason to
anticipate that the yield will be large, and the quality fine,
if we are favoured with a continuation of the warm dry
weather we have enjoyed for several weeks past. We hear
but little, comparatively with numerous other years, of
the ravages amnia among the wheat crop. Turnips look
promising, and they are generally well reported of. The
potato crop, we regret to learn, is not in so healthy a con-
dition as we could wish. Rumours of an extensive visits-
San of the blight" in this species of produce are rife in
Ttriollll quarters ; and we are sorry to learn that the dis-
use has manifested itself to some extent in this district.
81i11, as the crop is not yet ripened, it may, on the whole,
turn out better than at first sight might have been ex-
pected, as no doubt even yet, much will depend on the
state (tithe weather formate time come.—Denby Mercury.
lain or WIoNT.—The harvest has commenced through-
out the Island • sad although the smut has made its ate
perinea amongst the wheat crops in some few particular
spots its general solidity gives token that the quantity sod
weight will be far beyond the average. The loose corn
beautifully well, and on mat farms has come to hand as
early and in as good condition as the wheat. The weather
has become rather showery, which may somewhat retard
field labour, but it was much wanted for the turnips. We
undoretand that there is a considerable demand for la-
bourers, who are already scarce in the market, and the
deficiency of help has occasioned a rise of some shillings on
the acre for cutting and tying.—PainessAire TeikgrapA.
Wetate—ln most oldie localities of North Wales the po-
tan crop preseets unmistakeable signs of being affected
with the disease which has of late years so seriously
blighted that valuable esculent. In some places the dis-
temper has already made rapid and destructive prose's ;
and in Aberystwyth and its vicinity the leaves and stalks
of the plant have become withered within the last
fortnight, and the tubers greatly affected. In Hely-
' well, Portmadoc, Montgomery, Llantrynmair, and
adjacent districts, the hay harvest has been se-
cured in excellent condition, and the yield is a fair
average. Some fields of fine barley have also been cut.
The turnip crops are in a very luxriant state, sad green
crops generally promise extremely well. In South Wales,
more especially in Careaarthenshire, the bean crop appears
to be Ibiling..a prey to a disease which is likely to prove very
virulent. The con harvest throughout the principa.ity
genteelly, appears very luxuriant, the ears are full and
heavy, and an unusually abundant yield is expected.—
MONUOUTIIIIIIRI.—The hay harvest is complete in this
neighbourhood (Abergavenny), and the hay has principally
been got in in prime condition. The wheat now claims the
attention of the farmer, several pieces of which in this
neighbourhood is quite fit for the sickle, and by the middle
of next week, should the weather hold fine, the principal of
the corn crops will be fit for reaping. Every description of
crop is looking exceedingly promising, with the exception
of the potato crop, which, we regret to may, looks quite th
contrary. The disease has sot in with much greater viru-
lence than in any former year, the earlier crops being more
particularly affected ; the symptoms generally exhibit them-
selves in the stalks, during the formation of the seed bulb.
When once the disease seems to have taken the slightest
hold of the haulm its devastating progress is aeon made
painfully visible. Whole fields of potatoes, that a week
ago were looking most luxuriantly, now preseie a blackened
and sickening appearance, and are peculiarly offensive to
the maell.—Hsreford limes.