The Express.
London, England, 1855-11-23 00:00:00

PROPOSED EXTENSION OF THE FISH TRADE.

Last evening a meeting of members of the Billings-
gate fish trade was held at the Coal Exchange T , St.
Marrat.Hill, Billingsgate Musket, for the purpose of taking
into consideration the beet means of ensuring a cheap and
regular supply of all kinds of fish to the metropolis, so that
the quantity and the price should assume as certain a posi-
tion as butchers' meat, flour, potatoes, or any other staple
article of food; also to hear some explanations from a depu-
Itatios connected with the " Anglo-French Steam Fish Cam
pany." Mr. ROBINSON, a salesman, occupied the chair.
The CH/ARRAN said that one of the greatest barriers to
the extension of their trade arose from the fact that no sales-
man in Billingsgate Market knew one day from another
what the price of fish was to be. He had known it to rise
30 or 40 per pent. in a single day. The reason was that the
'supply was in the hands of a comparatively few persons,
who regulated the whole of it at their own pleasure. One
of the greatest boons which this country could have would
be a constant and cheap supply of food from the ocean.
Any means by which that could be accomplished would
soarer an inestimable benefit upon all, but especially the
=asses,ass,
asses, and the fish trade would be so extilteled as to
one of the great interests of the kingdom. Nothieg
osald be more advantageoas to the community than the
abolition of every monopoly on articles of food.
Mr. EDWARDS, one of the deputation from the Anglo.
French Company, told the meeting that the company he
represented was formed for the purpose of employing screw
steam-v.lnel*, whose blouse., it would be to visit the fishing
smacks on the deep sea fishing grounds, sod if one or more
of them were full, to tow the sacs to market, as it was
well known that wind and tide often detained fishing vessels
off the coast until cmbat( of the cargo was spoiled. The
screw steamers would also have wells into which fish could
be transferred, and furthermore the northern fisheries would
by such means be more advantageously worked, as the
steamers could take out provisions and stores in all
weathers, leaving the boats remaining at work.
They had the direct sanction and encouragement
of the French government, who looked upon the scheme as
likely to lead to the solution of all the international fishing
difficulties, while the towns of France (as well as of this
country) would be supplied with an abundance and regu-
larity hitherto unknown. The Credit Mobiller having sub.
scribed one half of the entire capital of the company,
namely, 160,000!., it was intended to pat on twelve steamers
as soon as possible. The prevalent opinion of the Loedon
salesmen was in favour of the plan, and hence that public
meeting. Several large dealers hoped the company would
soon commence operatwns, for a great deal of monopoly
was caused by the smack owners forbidding two or three out
of five smacks to be opened if an !Wyse,' wind arose during
the day. The public had no idea of that kind of screw.
Mr. VAN Barrio:l4 a Dutch salesman, said that a large
and cheap supply would be brought from the shores of
Holland if they only had proper vessels to bring it in.
A number of other salesmen addressed the meeting. A
Iseries of resolutions approving of the scheme as promising
real free trade in fish was passed, after which the proceed.
My terminated.

THE MITRDIR OF A SURGEON IN NORTH DURHAM.
—The inquest on the body of the late Mr. Stirling has been
adjourned for a fortnight, to give the police ample time
for further inquiries. Trey have some clue, but they are
keeping their suspicions quiet at present. The reward now
offered for the apprehension of the perpetrators of this
horrible outrage is 6001.; the inhabitants of Winterton
have given 601., the inhabitants of Tanfield 601., the Go.
moment 1001., Lord Raveseworth. Mr. John Bowes and
other county gentry, 3001. Sines the murder of Mr.
Stirling, the inhabitants of the villages in the neighbour-
hood of Gateshead have been kept in the greatest alarm by
a series of outrages which, in point of fast, have
made it dangerous to leave home after nightfall. Two or
three highway robberies have been committed, and others
attempted. A house has been broken into at Wickham,
and the house of a man named Robioson, nsiding at
Blachland, fotmerly a carrier between Newcastle and Hen-
ham, was entered while he was in hod. Be was awake,
bet to save his own life durst not stir, and the burglars
came into his room and took 501. out of his pockets, with
which they got clear. A most impudent highway robbery
was committed on Monday afternoon at Swalwell.bridge,
about two miles from where Mr. Stirling was murdered.
Mr. Connell, a publican, belongieg is Bleckhill, was pro-
ceeding to meet the Shotley-bridge coach, when he was
struck 1101111 by three fellows, who, after handling him
roughly, robbed him of what money he had upon him. A
man named Toby Welker, belonging to Newcastle, has been
apprehended and identified as one of the three men who
robbed him. A
ROBBERY OP UPWARDS OF 255 IN GOLD.— ea 1
robbery of a very serious and daring kind was committed
on Wednesday evening at the Talbot T , Redeliff, hill,
Bristol. Thelaudlord, Mr. Crook, has been in the habit of
built; considerable amounts of cash in his house, which was
kept in a leather bag in the bar during the day. On Wed-
nesday afternoon a perm cams and stood outside of a little
window which itommunleates from the her to the Inseam
where he called for something to drink. Having drunk Ms
liquor be put down a sovereign in payment for it, sad pen
earring that Mrs. Crook was about to give him change in
silver from the till, he asked her if she would oblige him
by giving him a half sovereign, as he wished to enclose it in
a letter to some parties. She than produced her bag, in
which there was at least 2561. in gold, and was in the act of
taking half a sovereign from it, when he made • grasp,
seised hold of it, snatched it away, and {immediately ran out
of the house in the direction of Guieea.street. Re was pu-
lsed as speedily as possible, but there are so many turnings
ia the neighbourhood that all Ina of him was lost almost
Information of the robbery was given to the
, and three or four detectives have been set to work ;
l'r:twtt is to be feared that the whole of the money will be
lest to the 'infatuate landlord. _ _

COMPENSATIONS UNDER THE NEW LOCAL MANAGE-
HINT AM.—There are two previsions is the sew Local
Metropolitan Act »speeder eoespesseties. By the 2111th
sectioa the Metropolitas Beard of Works is empowered to
grant retiring allowartees to officers employed under the
Metropolitan Commissioners of Bowers. C imputation is
authorised to be gives to *Seers of Paving Boards.
Nsw APPIILLS UNDER THE LOCAL MANAGEMENT
ACT.—By the sew Lomat Management Act the right of
appeal is gives to a ootersittee tipsiest the orders sod eats of
vestries and dhtriet beards is relation to the essetriteties of
worths. The M•Moipsyles Board is to appetite a eommittee

Om bawl!, the appe—sis.—
TRU METROPOLITAN COMMISSIONERS or Biww.
—By the aew Leal Maasserent Let, from sad seam the
emaseassusat et tim em, ea the let Jemmy, all duties,
pewee% sad authorities vested is the Metropoiitas Commis-
Masers et &wan ars to ones to In so nate& TM now
Beard of Works is to emote the powers with Napa* to
Nina sad dais&