The Sun.
London, England, 1864-02-15 00:00:00

SALMON FISHERIES.

At a meeting of the council of the Fisheries Preservation
Association, held on Friday, February 12,.L0rd Saltoun in
the chair, it was resolved that the following suggestions be
submitted to the Home-office, with a view to their intro-
duction in any new bill for the amendment of the Fishery
Act of 1861, viz.:—

1. That the fence•time for England and Wales he 168
days, as provided for in the Scotch and Irish Acts for
1862 and 1863.

2. That power should be given to the commissioners to
define ancient rights for fishing by fixed engines.
3. That an assessment be levied on engines and nets in
aid •f the funds required for the preservation of rivers.
4. That further provision be made to prevent the pol-
lution of rivers.

5. That minimum as well as maximum penalties shall be
specified.
6. That justices in quarter sessions should have power
to fix a fence-time for trout within their several counties.
(Signed) SArrou iv, President F.P.A.

POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTION.—The ordinary an-
nnal general meeting of the shareholders in this
institution was held on Saturday, at the office in Regent-
street—the Rev. J. B. Owen in the chair. The report of
the manager congratulated the shareholders upon the suc-
cess of the company, owing in a great measure to the at-
tractions of the illusion patent, which was now protected
by the decision of the Lord Chancellor. The receipts for
the past year had been £13,000, as against £lO,OOO in the
Exhibition year. The report then referred to the altera-
tions required in the laboratory, which was now almost
useless for conducting experiments; and concluded by ex-
pressing confidence in the future prosperity of the institu-
tion. The report of the directors paid a high compliment
to the exertions of Professor Pepper on behalf of the insti-
tution. Since the last meeting the Prince of Wales had
consented to become patron, and it was proposed that in
future it should be called by its original title of the Royal
Polytechnic Institution. During the past half .year the
receipts at the doors had amounted to £6,841 9s 9d, as com-
pared with £6,580 98 2d on the previous half-year, being
upwards of £261 more than the amount received in anypre-
vious six months. During the past year the institution has
received its first legacy of £l5O from Mr. Gompertz. The
whole of the premises are unlet, including the house in
Cavendish-square. The directors recommended the pur-
chase of the unexpired term of lease of the large theatre
for the sum of £2,500, thereby reducing the rental from
£250 to £5O per annum. The directors also recommended
a dividend of 5 per cent, for the half lea'',
being at the
rate of 10 per cent. per annum, 10 per cent. to be written off
from stock and plant, and 5 per cent. from leasehold. The
report then referred to the high moral tone of the amuse-
ments produced at the institution, and concluded by stating
the great success of the evening classes, under the superin-
tendence of the Rev. Mr. Mackenzie. The financial state-
ment showed the gross receipts for the half year, including
a balance of £1,807 7s ld, to be £9,249 178 4d, and the ex-
penditure, including £9lO written off for stock, plant, and
leasehold, £4,823 18 10d, leaving a balance of £4,026 1886 d,
which, after payment of dividend, would leave £3,347 11s
6d to be carried forward to next account,—On the motion
of the chairman, seconded by Mr. Gregson, M.P., the re-
port was adopted. Mr. Mayhew moved, "That the direc-
tors be empowered to purchase the lease of the large theatre
for £2,500, at the reduced ground rent of £5O per Annum."
Mr. Thomson Hankey, M.P., seconded the resolution, which
was agreed to after some discussion. The dividend as re-
commended was then declared. On the motion of Mr. S.
Mosley it was resolved that all shares not paid up by the
let May shall be declared forfeited. The meeting was then
made special. and a resolution was agreed to that the in-
stitution should for the future be called the "Royal Poly-
technic Institution.
AMERICAN WINTER AMUSEMENTS.—A fancy
dress skating carnival was got up at New York
last month, and was attended in the course of the afternoon
and evening by 20,000 persona. A partial thaw made the
condition of the ice so unfavourable that many ladies and
gentlemen would not wear their fancy dresses. " Still,"
says the New York Times," there were tasteful and comic
costumes, among which was noticed the full dress of the
Scotch Highlander. One of those dresses was worn by the
daughter of the president of the pond. The Turkish,
Chinese, Italian, and French peasantry and different
Zouave uniforms were among the fancy costumes worn.
The comic ones were in representation of the boar,
clown, chris-kringle, belsnichols, and a variety of others,
including the dresses worn in the inhabitants of the
more frigid climes. To such a degree of perfection
has the healthful and invigorating exercise of

skating come within the past three or four years
that any number of couples can be seen keeping time to the
music by dancing, waltzing, &c., in a highly creditable
manner." In Canada sleighing seems to be the favourite
sport. " Few prettier eights are presented in the streets of
Montreal," says a Canadian paper, " than the procession
of the Montreal Driving Club—the turn out of handsome
horses and vehicles covered with the furs, which not only
make a sleigh feel but look like the perfection of comfort,
all moving along to the merry tinkling of the bells. On
Tuesday the meet was in great force, some 30 or 40 sleighs
being out, General Sir F. Williams leading with four
horses. Major Penn also drove four in hand. Captain
M'Farlan, of the Military Train,
sported a ' unicorn,' lir.
Muir, Captain Crosby, of the 60th, and some other gentle-
men drove tandem." The weather in Canada this winter
is described as very like our own—generally mild weather,
, tut With 011 Q Or two visitations of excessive cold.