The Express.
London, England, 1868-08-31 00:00:00

THE VOLUNTEERS.

resignation of Mr. George Cruikahank as
lieutenant-colonel of the 48th Middlesex -Volunteers is offici-
ally announced. The bickerings which have taken place in
the corps, and notably the prompt cashiering of the 14
officers who signed a document to the War-office calling
upon their commander to resign some few months back,
led to inquiry into the management of the corps after
the advent of the Duke of Wellington to power as Lord-
Lieutenant of Middlesex, in the room of the late Marquis
of Salisbury. The facts of the whole matter having been
laid before the duke, be reinstated Captain Chambers as
captain in the South Middlesex, to which corps his previous
company in the 48th had gone. It was also understood
that the other cashiered officers, on obtaining commissions,
would be motored ; and this reversal of the decision has, it
is believed, been looked upon by Mr. George Cruikahenk
as such a reflection upon him that he had no other alterna-
tive than to resign.
On Saturday several " events " tookplace amongst the
volunteers. No. S company of the Paddington volunteers
competed on Wormwood Scrubbeforaseries of prises. Lieu-
tenant Vickermsn was in command at the firing points.
The annual prize meeting of the London Rifle
Brigade was also brought to a conclusion at Plaistow
Marshes. The most remarkable score was that of
Corporal Hayes, who in shooting for a handsome
cup of the value of 211., presented by the Broad-street Ward
for firing as skirmishers, starting at 600, and firing at 400,
350 300, 250, and 200 yards, a minute being allowed at
each range, or five minutes in all, made nine bullseyes in
nine shots, and won the cup. In the aggregate prizes, shot
for in two series, seven shots at 200, 500, and 600 yards,
the first was won by Private Marsh with 101 marks, the
second by Colour-Sergeant Churchill with a like score, the
third by Sergeant Dunn with 99, the fourth by Sergeant
Goddard with 96.
The annual Mr of the Stoke Newington (12th Tower
!remitta) Rifle Volunteers took place in the beautiful
grounds attached to the residence of Mr. T. Bros, on the
banks of the River Lea, at roper Clapton. From three to
four !how and persona assembled to witness the fun that
was provided.
The eighth annual battalion prize shooting of the 20th
Middlesex R.V.C. took place at the range of the corps,
Steamer°.
The annual inspection of the Woolwich Dockyard Ar-
tillery volunteers took place on Saturday night.
In the afternoon, a very large number of the Finebnry
Rifles competed at Rainham, Essex, for a cup, value 25
guineas, presented to the regiment by Mr. Alderman Lusk,
the representative of the borough in Ser-
geant Hoefling was the winner.

EXPERIIFENT IN WILLLE FIIIILLNG.—A novel
experiment in whale fishing has been tried at Peterhead
during the last fortnight. At this season of the year
large numbers of the species.of whale known by the sea-
men as .` firiners " appear in the bay. Their presence
is gladly welcomed by the herring fishers, who look upon
them as a sign that a shoal of herrings is on the coast.
It has always been a matter of some surprise, and even
regret, that these fish could not be caught and utilised in
the same way as the Greenland whales. The experi-
mentalists have procured a decked fishing boat,
which is fitted with an engine and screw, and
otherwise made suitable for hunting the whales.
The miniature whaler has been several times at sea, but
no fish have yet been landed. Numbers of the fish have
been seen, and a few have been fired at and struck, and
on one occasion when the harpoon was fast in a fish the
line broke, and the whale escaped. Thew failures, how-
ever show the promoters of the undertaking what is re-
quired to prosecute the fishing successfully, and they have
been acting upon the information and strengthening their
gear. The vessel has an advantage over the boats formerly
employed, in that a harpoon-gun can be placed at each
side, and thus command a greater stretch of sea than can
be done with the one gun placed in front of the regular
whaling boat. This species of fish are 'aid to measure
from thirty to eighty feet, and to yield from six to eight
tuns of oil. so that ma fish woull be ample remuneration
for a few days unsuoceesful work. The oil is about two-
thirds of the value of the common whale oil.
EXCMNO CAPTURE OF WTIALEEI OFF REOCA.R.—

On Wednesday the beach at this well-known Yorkshire
watering-place was the scene of unwonted excitement, the
cause being the appearance of a shoal of whales a short
distance from the shore. Two eobles went off in pursuit,
and succeeded in capturing two fine bottic-nosed whales.
One measuring 13 ft. 6 in. from snout to tail. and weigh-
ing about two tons, was easily caught and lauded after a
shot had been fired into its head ; the other. 27 ft. 3 in.
long, and supposed to weigh about six or seven tons. was
not landed without considerable difficulty. Three car-
tridges and a handful of loose shot were fired into its head
and shoulders, causing it to bleed profusely. After
floundering about for a considerable time it seemed gra-
dually to lose its strength, and lay on the surface to all
appearance dead. The &berme.* therefore rowed up to it.
and one of them got on its back and made a deep incision
in its shoulders with a knife. Ropes were fastened round
its tail, and preparations made for towing it ashore, when
the animal suddenly roused itself, and made frantic efforts
to escape. It lashed the sea with terrific force. dashing
the spray in all directions to a great height.
_The sea for
some distance was covered with bloodonred foam. and

the spray, together with large pieces of seaweed torn from
the rocks, were flying on every side. After struggling
for about a quarter of an hour the huge monster was
stranded on West Scar. It was got off at flood tide, but
it was necessary to divide it into three portions before it
could be landed again, owing to its immense weight.
QUEER ENGLInII.—We have received from
Venice (Italy) a printed adeertisernent for insertion in
the rims, on conditions that we can hardly acoept. The
advertirement has been done into English by some
Venetian unacquainted with our language, aided by an
Wltalian lexicon: snit the result appears in the
el°et-confusion of words. phranee, and ideas that could
be Imagined. Two or three Italian newspapers art for-
warded, with this remark printed in artistie ,hiorodrore
I transmit to you the fourth pages of the* sames lone-
nee wich by !heir formal and the intelligent initiative
wich pre.ides to their editing. as well a by their good
management and their great readers from Country and
outside, next to wich they enjoy besides 0 very legitimate
favour, MP, intlend &prebend not to he put in a parallel
with all thiir others fellows of Peninsula." Now York
AvLust