The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1824-10-11 00:00:00

THE HERRING FISHERY.

Sa:Txaweror, Ocr. I.
The herring season has commenced within the Isle of
IVight, and though no great abundance of fish has been yet
caught, such as have beers netted are remarkably tine in qua-
lity, and promise an abundant supply. It is desirable to
impress on the inhabitants of the south coast of Hampshire
the great importance of this fishery, wlileh last year found
employment for about 400 vessels. and boats, and conse-
quently ternoved a hard-working class of persons from
she Moors' Hatt., to the evident personal comfort of
their families, and the extraordinary improvement in
their vessels, tackle, and equipments. We regret, there-
fore, to bear that the 'principal market for these fish will,
through a recent order of the Privy Council, be removed in
the present season, as it levies a countervailing (or corres-
ponding duty with the French imposts), tonnage duty of
3s. rfd. per ton on all French vessels that cane to our :lures
to purchase herrings. The injury that will ensue is at
once evident: the Frenchmen gave so liberal a price for
the fish last year (varying from 4s. to Ss. per bushel), that
they cannot aftiml to pay any &nits whatever; and conse-
quently, they have given notice of their intention not to
make any purchases. Our home market will then he
glutted, and the hard-working fishermen will not obtain a
remunerating price. We should suppose, if this matter
were fairly stated to the Lords of the Treasury, by all the
towns and parishes interested, a relief would be obtained.
As an evidence of the impottance of the trade, we are
assured that the sum of seventy thousand pounds, in'
bard money, was last season paid to our fishermen,
who fish inside of the late of Wight and Southampton
Water.

POUTSMOUTII, °Me.
We understand the Fishermen of this Port are about to
petition the Lonls of the Treasury to revoke so much of
their Order in Council which imposes a tonnage duty on
French vessels entering the porta of Portsmouth and
Southampton, during the herring fishery season for fish.
The duty amounts to Ss. 6d. per ton ; and when pilotage
and other dues are added, it will amount almost to a pro-
hibition to the Frenchmen coming to us fur lfCrrings.
Though this may appear at first sight a simple matter, yet,
it is, in fact, a subject of great importanco, as well to the
capitalist as to the fishermen and inhabitants adjacent to
the fishery ; and, it is equally es nationally, as being a
nursery for seamen. Moreover, the present duty is in direct
opposition to that policy by which bounties are, in certain
cases, given to fishermen. It it well known that the catch of
herrings has for years past been so great, that, after our
markets have been cheaply supplied, tittle has been a consi-
derable surplus, at much so, that unless the Fiend' vestels
had visited the ports, the same must have been sold for ma-
nure or thrown away; and it is calculated the purchasAi made
in this way, during the last a:•ason only, amounted to
60,0001. The productive state of the fishery has indneed
many persons to embark capitals in the same; and there
will be ready for the incoming season, no less than too vesaels
and boats, which will give employment to abode 1,300 ma-
riners. The average costs of nets and gear will la about
16,0001. and of the vessels and boats upwards of 64,000 f.
Now, if there be no market for the fish, of what avail will
he the exertions of the fisherman—what spur to industry or
enterprise ? This is not the only consequence ; all this
money winter lest in circulation in this vicinity, and many
of the men, with their numerous families, will hurdle') thel
parishes, forced as it were not to be indurrious, when (as
is the fact) they looked for their barest in the fishery, and
have made expensive preparanons fur its approach. All
the fishermen want, and the necessity of the case requires,
is, an exception as to French vessels coming fur fish ; a
boon which we trust the Lords of the Treasury will be
pleased to grant, as we know it to be a nutter of the first
importance to the poor tithettnen anti their families at the
commencement of the winter season, and is equally an ob-
ject of importance to the community at large.

RETAIL RII W t 113.—Perrom cagarced in the bushier" of
retail brewing should be very careful how they carry on
their business, for a number of excisemen are in the habit
of going rmind to entrap thrill into the commission of
°Knees against the law, fin the sake of pocketing a share
of the penalties which may be recovered. At the New
Bailey, on Thursday knit, reveral brewers, who hail carried
on their business in cellars, were convicted in mit:gateil
penalties, fur tiermitting beer to be drunk on the steps
leading to those cellars, but outside their dours.--ifun-
c!se.% ter Guardian.

lisrosvavtos or tars Srocx.—The exportation of
live stock is carrying on to au extent of which we imagine
our I-ciders in general are not aware. Within the last
twelve mouths it has more than trebled the extent of any
of the preceding years.—l/hie,:prd .'horse.
The produce of the largest single property ear hmught
to the lottnicer in England did not amount to inure than
300,000/. The °monde estates, however, which are tau-
Signed to the care of Mr. George Robins, will, it is thought,
ptoduee 6°0,0001.
.1. J. Farquharson, Fol. of Layton-house, Dorset, lost
upwards of forty sheep on Friday night lost, by the rapid
rise of the river Stour, occasioned by the heavy rains on
Thursday foul rrichy.
A plot of ground, near Sheepsear Bar, on the road from
!knee to flat regale (the property of 1.:3t1 Cowper), was
sold by auction, at Turnbull's !Intel, last l'ritlay, at front
4s. to 6s. rt. yard. 'lite whole tichl (which had only pro-
duced 111. per annum) fetched neatly 3,:uol.—Lerd:
la-
lelliAr

5.11 is srsv, Orr. S.—Downton annual fair was 'held on
Saturday last. The streets were so completely Hooded with
seat; r, that there could seare.ly be ally intercourse carried
on either aitioi4;st the inhabitants or the dealers. Indeed
the meadows are entirely under water. Ilay. by whole
r.cks, rows, ilicep, every thing that is mos,. abl”, has suf-
fered from the inces:ant rains which have fallen within
thilso ti. days.

In 1110 vicinity of I)togbrds, and ftw some miles round,
sevetal hundred loon::: Ite now elliployetl in wroving cotton,
the warp amt were of which arc brought in a riparml state
from Alenchest cr.

On '3innii;iie;c:thitT, while the was engaged in
Plyine F•erviee, in the Wesky.in chapvt, thirslein. seine
p:-:cons gut into the yeittry, ai.d ca-rieit o!! Li•. Lit art!