The Express.
London, England, 1866-01-04 00:00:00

THE EXPRESS, THURSDAY EVENING, JANUARY 4, 1866.

THE SBA FISHERIES COMMISSION.

The report of the commissioners makes the fol-
lowing recommendatioas
1. We advise that all acts of pi:Bement which profess
to regulate or restrict the modes of fishing punned in the
open sea be repealed; and that unrestricted freedom of
fishing be permitted hereafter.
2. With respect to in-shore fishing, although the •vi-
deuce, so far se it is conclusive, appears to us to prove that
the taking of small and immature fish has not yet pro-
duced any lejariets effect ripen the fisheries, it is un-
doubtedly possible, that by the use of improved eagle's,
the destruction of fry might reach such • pitch as to bear
a large, instead of, as at present, an insignificant
ratio to the destruction effected by the natural enemies
of fish, and by conditions unfavourable to their existence.
The existence of such a state of things, however, could only
be determined by the examination of trustworthy statistics
of the fisheries in queetioe extending over a considerable
number of years, and should it ever be satisfactorily proved
to have arisen, no conceive that the beet remedial measure
would be to place a restriction upon the size of fish per-
mitted to be brought ashore, and to subject the possessor of
fish below • certain specified size to penalties ; but to
avoid interfering with the implements of fishermen, or with
their methods of fishing. For the present, we advise that
all act, of parliament which profess to regulate or restrict
the modes of fishing pursued in-shore be regaled with the
exceptions, purely on ground. of polies, of the local act
regulating pilchard fishing at St. Ives ; and, for that part of
Loch Fyn which lies above Otter Spit, of the act prohibit-
ing trawling for herrings in Scotland.
3. While we do sot consider it expedient to impose any
general restrictions upon the fishing of inehore oyster or
mussel beds, we strongly recommend that every legislative
assistance be given to individuals or corporations who may
desire to form private beds for oyster or moose] culture.
Iu doing this it will be neoeseary to keep two objects in
view. la the first place, to provide • means by which corn.
panics or individuals may easily acquire such • title to ads.
irate portions of the sea-bottom as may make it worth their
while to expend capital in stocking and tending the fishery.
In the second place, to see that, in so doing, preexisting
rights of fishery are not unduly interfered with, and espe-
cially that the property in the seit.bottom so acquired does
not extend so far as to oonfer a virtual monopoly of the
whole productive area. We are disposed to think
that the most eonvenient course would be to em.
power • public board to grant lessee of the sea-
bottom, after making proper inquiries into the circum-
stances of each cue. Such power should only be exercised
slier proper notice to the public at the place proposed to
be so dealt with, and with due consideration of the tate.
rests of the existing fishing population ; and an appeal from
the decision of the board should be given to the Privy Coun-
cil, whose decision should be final and conclusive as to any
claim of the public to dredge, or fish over the ground so
granted. Greets made by the board should be for a limited
number of years only ; and should be voidable after &certain
number of years on its being proved to the board that
they had not been acted upon. Where a valuable fishery
now exists beyond low water mark, no grant of exclusive
fishing should be made without the maladies of parliament ;
and it would be more satisfactory to the public of the place
where any such appropriation might be contemplated, if
proceedings were first tommenced before the board, and en
inquiry on the spot held by them, or by some person duly
authorised by them. The various schemes approved by the
board might, we thick, be embodied in • general act, with
short reports on the individual cases.
. . . . . .

4. W; think it • matter of great importance that fishery
statistics should be systematically collected. It is only by
such means that the constant recurrenoe of the panics to
which the sea fishery interest has hitherto been subjected
can be prevented, and that any trustworthy oonchunon can
be arrived at regarding the effects of the modes of fishing
which are in nse. It is probable that the existing coast-
guard, or customs', organisation might be utilised to col-
lect fishery statistics, as is now, to some extent, the case in
Ireland.

5. With reference to the police of the fisheries, we ad-
vise that an act be passed embodying the substance of the
provisions enumerated above. We recommend that the
due enforcement of this act should be confided to the Lords
of the Admiralty, who should place cruisers, of such a cha-
racter is the nature of the stations may indicate, on snob
fishing stations as m►y require their presence. The oom-
weeders of such cruisers should receive and report upon all
3omplaints that may be made by fishermen, or others, re-
specting the falling off of the supply of fish in consequence
of alleged injurious practices, or respecting the interferences
of fishermeo, one with another, not remediable by ordinary
prJoess of law.
6. Finally, we advise that all restrictions which prevent
foreign fishermen from entering British or Irish ports for
the sale of fish be removed in Great Britain and Ireland ;
and that measures be t►ken to secure the like freedom for
British fishermen in foreign ports. All which we humbly
certify to your Majesty, under our heads and seals.

JAMICB CAIRO.
THOMAB 13121/T HUELIT.
GIORGI SHAW LIZIVILZ.

PENIANISH IN THE KITCHEN AREA.

(From ilia ?Ina York Itisses.)

We see that " Ellen A. Mabony, H.D.F.S."
(which is said to mean Head Directress of the Fenian
Sisterhood), is out in a letter to the " intelligeut Irish
ladies" of America, urging their co-operation in "the
glorious work of Ireland's regeneration." She tells them
what is wanted, for the most part, is mosey—which is not
difficult to understand.

But the Head Directress is no less explicit upon the pur-
poses for which these funds are needed. "Money must be
raised to fit out a fleet and to equip an army ;" sod the
cheerful assurance is proffered thet "soon Green Din will
be • battle-field ; soca the sunburst will stream over every
bill and valley of our lead." Now, we all know whet
ligeot Irish ladies " means ; it means Bridget. " Only this,
and nothing more." Poor, honest, hard-working, affectionate,
Bridget, who has already sent half, perhaps three-quarters,
of her scanty earnings to the never•to-beeforgotten circle in
the dear old home, and become thereby a proverb of faith-
fulness throughout the world. To Bridget, thus depleted,
comes Mistress Mabony kindly protesting "We only ask
a portion of your worldly goods," and lays hands on two
thirds of the
_quarter that remains to her. " Ten dollars,"
says she, " will purchase en Irish Revolutimar7 Bond.
Surely, surely, in view of the good to be acoompluilied, I
need not," he. "And what good, thin ?" asks hesitating
Bridget. Is it credible, the impudence of the reply ? "An
army is to be equipped, and • fleet to set sail"
from this country " for the hallowed shores of Erin !"
Aed now, to show that we are not wrong io
our surmise of the clam whom this shameless
imposture is intended to affect, hear the Head
Drectress further :—" It is hoped that esch sister will
endeavour to possess one of these bonds. If impracticable
now, as in some cases, make a payment during each week, or
at each meeting, requesting the treasurer to credit you for
amounts thus paid in. . . . I need Dot speak more at
length to intelligent Irish ladies." " And again, do not
consider your work accomplished by liberal dosations upon
your own part. Each sister should consider herself a bond
agent, and work as she has never worked before, in further.
ante of the grand and holy work to which we are pledged ;
a work so holy, that I call upon you unhesitatingly ; nay, if
need be, I beg of you, by every tender, every 7 endearing
memory, to give even more than you nauseate.
We will not attempt to define the limit beyond which
this outrageous Fenian organisation may safely go, in thus
boldly proposing the equipment of an expedition (on
American shores) hostile to • foreign power wish which we
are at peace. Perhaps the very transparency of the hum-
bug, becoming daily more apparent, is making the whole
movement a matter for the cognizance of the police rather
than of the Secretary of State. It is quite useless, too,
trying to arrest the fatal alacrity with which the common
class of Irishmen rush to the mere of every sharper who
would lore them to their ruin. For many • day yet, we fear
that the Irishman's best, as well as his worst qualities, will
be played upon by designing men, to bring him to mischief
sod to grief. But this new phase in the nefarious game—
this attempt to abuse the finest traits of the Irish character
with pretexts for levying onerous tribute upon the monthly
earnings of the poor end industrious women, we have some
1 hope will find • check in the sound f the contem-
! plated victims. We have much faith in Bridget ; and we
sincerely trust that when Mistress Mehooy, or any of these
mousing bond agents, conies fumbling roiled her strong-
; box, or sniffing at her savings-bask book, she will rise io
I the majesty of her wrath and turn the trollop out of the
kitchen.

DERTECCTION BY FIRE OF CREWE-HALL, CH &SHIRE.
—About 2 o'clock yesterday morning • special messenger
mounted oo horseback reached Crewe station, with the
alarmiog intelligence that Crewe.hall, situate about • mile
and a halt from Crewe, and one of the most splendid seats
in England, had caught fire. Our correspoodeot having
been called up, reached the some of the diameter, and found
that shortly after Lord Crewe had retired to rest, 1.10 a.m.,
his lordship rang for his valet, and intimated his suspicion
of fire in some part of the premises ; and on proceeding to
the top part of the eastern wing of the building, fire was
certainly at work. The railway works engine reached at two,
but as their boss was too short, they were of little service
until extra hose was procured. During all this delay the fire
had spread along the marble ball, picture gallery, drawing-
room, and the chapel on the north side, the ceiling of
which, with the walls ornamented with splendid costly
paiatioga, soon became • pitiful sister. The window over
the communion table, beautified with stained glass illus-
trative of Scripture history, is totally destroyed. The
great staircase, with • large quantity of statuary, is all
gone. Many paintings that were at the Great Exhibitioo in
1862 have been destroyed. The hall was commenced to be
built in 1615, sad completed in 16.16, and in 1837 it was
restored, at • cost of 50,0081.. by the present lord. A
eusiderable amount of furniture and valuables has
bees saved, but the domestic servants have suffered
very heavily. Lady Boughton, sister to Lord Crewe, sad
Mrs. Toilet, late of Betley•lisll, now of London, were too •
visit at the time. The entire ball, except • very small perk
was destroyed by 12 at noon yesterday. The fire ori-
ginated in the heated air pipes. The ball is Insured.
It is estimated that the quantity of mialetoe
brought into Manchester during the put Christmas, sad re.
sol ordecoratiog houses sounding to custom,exoseded 100
tons in weight. addition to this upwards of 200 toss of
holly andotherevergnisne were brought into the city and
of for similar peps

NAVAL AND ramaity.

ADMIRALTY, JAN. 3. APPOINTMENTS. COM.
Isuoder F. W. Wilson, to the Hector.
Lieutenants 0. T. Cho* Maddock R. W. Griffiths,
Verney L. Cameron, end F. Halter, to the Excellent ; J.
F. Baker, to the Canopus ; J. B. Creagh, to the Hastier.
Master's Aasistante J. F. Fort, to the Fox ; H. B. New-
ton, additional, to the Royal Adelaide.
Assistant P►ymaster J. Bummer, to the Royal George.
Acting Second Master A. Hackman, additional, to the
Victory.

PORTSMOUTH, JAN. 3.
The following ships are under orders to return to
England to pay out of oommiseiou. :—The Archer, 13
guns, 21)2 horsepower, Captain F. Marten, from the West
Coast of Africa; Cameleon, 17 guns, 200 horsepower,
Commander T. M. Jones, from the Pacific); Cooqueror. 78
guns, 500 horse-power, Captain W. G. Loud, from China ;
Devastation, 6 guns, 400 horse-power, Commander W. R.
Jolliffe, from tee Pacific'; Leopard, 18 guns. 560 horse.
powder, Captain T. C. Leckie, from China ; Rattlesnake,
21 guns, 400 horsepower, Commodore A. P. E. Wilmot,
C. 8., from the West Coast of Africa ; Stromboli, 6 gum,
280 horse-power, Commander A. Phillips, from the South.
East Coast of America ; Swallow, 9 guns, 60 horse-power,
Mader Commander E. Wild, from China and Japan ; and
the Tribune, 23 guns, 300 horse-power, Captain the Lord
Gifford, from the Pacific. To these may be added, the
Galatea, 26 guns, 800 borse-power. Captain R. Maguire.
recently arrived at Devonport, from North America and
the West Indies.

2WI DIOOE3S OF HAT/L.

The Bishop of Capetown publishes the following
app.al to the younger clergy sad osaMdates fee holy osiers
it the ohm* of EaAtlsad :

"The applications which I continually remise from the
diocese of Natal for additional clergy ioduce me to appeal
to you in behalf o that molt tried and threatened outpost
in the kingdom of our Lord, and to salt that a small and I
devoted band of faithful men will plaos themselves at my
disposal for a period of three or five years, for service in
South Africa. lam slue that there are many amongst you
who are ready to give themselves simply and unre-
servedly to Christ, to witness for Him, and =tetras His
truth wherever, at the moment, the nerd may be the
greatest. In my belief the seed is very great at this time
in Natal, and in the adjoining dioosse of the Free State. In
the name of our fitamter, I invite those who have no more in-
portant work to do for Him in England, to offer themselves
for work in this lend. In Natal, at a most critical period, the
clergy are being reduced in number. One of that small and
faithful band has just broken down. Another has receotly
left. Four churches are at this moment without okra.
Several posts where there are ao churches are vacant. It
is a great reproach to the church that no clergyman has
been sent out from England duns; the last two years, to
uphold the truth in that afflicted diocese, though the most
earnest appalls for men have been pat forth. What can
be expected of a church left thus without a ministry ? The
S.P.G. has made additional grants to the diocese of Natal,
and their committee in Natal will recommend them, I
understand, to send out four or five clergymen with
stipends from the society, amounting to 1001. or more per
annum, which will probably be increased by local contri-
butions to about 2001. in every case. Clergy to fill these
vacancies are what we now most urgently need. I shall my.
self continue, as Metropolitan, to superintend that widowed
church until the consecratioo of a bishop. There is a noble
field for work also in the Free State ; and a most loving and
devoted bishop, who is now almost alone. Two or three
men are urgently needed for that work. lf the S.P.G. is
unable to pay more than a portion of the paasage oat of
clsrgymeo, I will be responsible far the remainder ; and I
shall gladly receive at Capetown, at my house, any who
may come out. It may be worth observing that any clergy.
man with a delicate chest will find both Natal and the Free
State—especially the latter—countries suited to his com-
plaint. If care be taken at first, men who cannot work in
England find themselves able to work in South Africa.
" 11. CAPETOWN."

The Bishop of Grahamstown, who is at present in this
country, publishes the following protest from " the church-
men of Siaritzburg:"

"To John William Coleus>, D.D., by her Majesty's
Letters Patent designated Lord Bishop of Natal.— We, the
undersigned, uodentanding from your letter dated London,
June 9, 1865, addressed to the clergy and laity of the
United Church of England and !related in the diocese of
Natal, that on your arrival in the colony you propose to
assume episcopal authority over the body of Christians
therein commonly called by that name, to which we belong,
beg to state that we cannot recognise your claim to exer-
cise such authority, nor to interfere in any wise with the
clergy, ourselves, or the property of the church. Ilse
Majesty's Privy Conned has judicially decided, on your
petition, that we are in the colonies of the crown in South
Africa a voluntary association only, in the eye of the law,
and that it rests with ourselves to make and execute
our own rules, provided only that in so doing we
do not do anything oontrary to the law of the land.
The crown, however, in letters patent granted to our
bishop., marked out a courts which, seeking the well-
being of the church, it desired us to follow. That course
has been loyally followed by the Bishops of Capetown,
Grahamstown, St. Helena, and the Orange Free State ;
mid they have deposed you, oe account of your teaching,
from the exercise of your spiritual office, by a sentence io
which we concur, That sentence has also been manifestly
accepted by the archbishop, and bishops of the church of
England, to whom we look with the deepest reverence and
affection. This being the cane, we must regard any attempt
on your part to act in opposition to the judgmeot of the
church, expressed so frequently, so distinctly, end in such
various ways, as an act interfering with those liberties as
a voluntary association, and those tights as loyal subjects
of the crown, so distinctly secured to us by the Privy
Council."