The Sun.
London, England, 1865-01-16 00:00:00

funds at present from a tax on nets, rods, &c. To
meet the difficulty it had occurred to him that a rate
might be levied on all landowners who possess a
frontage of rivers. This proposal he knew would be
strongly objected to by some ; but others were
equally strong in its favour. If a clause were intro-
duced into the bill—for no provision was made for
it at present—of course it would be quite optional
whether it was adopted by any board or not—it
might be considered advisable to do so for one river
and not for another. It had been found to answer
well on some rivers on the voluntary principle—the
rate in aid being levied according to the value of
that portion of the river which the landowner pos-
sessed. He trusted this rate proposition would re-
ceive their earnest consideration. In conclusion Mr.
Ffennell advocated protection being given to trout
as well as salmon. The spawning time. of both fish
corresponded ; and it was a great obstacle to carry-
ing out the Salmon Fishery Act to have persons
fishing avowedly for trout, but really for salmon,
during the salmon fence season.
A long discussion followedthe hon. commissioner's
address.

Mr. T. MICHELMORE considered it would be a
great injustice to do away with the present conser-
vators, as was proposed by the 13th clause of the
bill, for the majority had done their best, under
great difficulty, and had achieved very satisfactory
results. By the 22d section water bailiffs were to
have power to examine any dam, fishing weir, or
engine, but he thought the clause would be inope-
rative unless power was also given him to examine
all baskets.

Mr. FFENNELL considered this a good suggestion.
and in reply to further observations from Mr.
Michelmore, he said the district where a licence was
taken out for a rod would have the benefit of it, but
the person licenced would, by the 24th section, have
a right to fish in any river in the kingdom where he
had obtained permission. Any rod would be consi-
dered a salmon rod that was used in catching salmon.
Mr. MICHELMORE, adverting to the proposition
for a rate in aid, said he knew there were many
objections to it, but he was not opposed to such a
rate. He thought, however, that as the increase of
salmon was a question of national importance, tlee
money required should be contributed by head
quarters.
Mr. FFENNELL said he should not have the teme-
rity to go to the Chancellor of the Exchequer to
suggest that it should be paid by the State.
Mr. MICHELMORE considered that grates should
be put across the entrances of all artificial channels,
and he hoped the amended act would deal with this
and many other points, or it would be scarcely worth
while to pass it.
Mr. J. E. KINGDON suggested that the services of
the coastguardsmen should be employed in examin-
ing boats, nets, &c., in the entrances of such rivers
as the Exe ; and considered it essentially necessary
that the act should deal with the question of sewage,
and the deleterious matters from mines. gas works,
paper mills, &c. , being allowed to drain into the rivers.
Mr. COLLIER moved a resolution expressing the
concurrence of the meeting in the general provisions
of the bill, which was seconded by Mr. KEKEWICH.
After some observations by Earl FORTESCUE and
others, the motion was carried; and the meeting
separated.

RAILWAY INTELLIGENCE.

(Hear, hear.) Hayling had been a terra incognita.
The great mass of the people residing in the metro-
polis were utterly ignorant of its existence, and he
believed that if a cheap excursion train was to run
from London to Hayling, it would become a favou-
rite resort. If that advertisement which they had
all witnessed so constantly and steadily posted on
some portion of every street—eight hours by the
sea-side—were made to apply at some future day to
Hayling, the island would not be a terra incognita,
but it would become a place of great notoriety.
(Hear, hear.) Although the line was a short one,
he hoped it would prove a good one, and that it
would benefit the district. (Cheers.) Sir Henry
Leeke, Bart., M.P., their chairman, was absent
through indisposition, to his own and their regret.
Sir Henry's interest in the undertaking was undi-
minished, and his confidence in its success remained
the same.

The VICE-CHAIRMAN said that he believed that
Hayling was the best bathing place in England ;
50,000 persons could bathe on that beach without
inccnvenience. (Hear, hear.) Hayling was gene-
rally unknown, which fact he proved to them, but
when known it would become one of the first
watering-places in the south. He spoke of the
delays experienced by shipping bound to one of the
London docks, and showed that they could dis-
charge their cargoes at Langston, reload, and almost
return from another voyage, nearly as soon as they
could discharge in London. That was the light in
which they must view that undertaking. One of
his ships, the Balmoral, would be there with a cargo
of coal on Saturday or Monday. A great business
could be done in the coal trade, and the nucleus of
a coal company had been formed. He believed they
would be able to supply Portsmouth with coal
advantageously.
Numerous complimentary toasts were proposed,
and duly acknowledged, at the dinner, and the
meeting terminated.

Appalling Catastrophe at Edinburgh.

threatened houses endeavoured to remove their household
goods, and the whole of St. James's-place was filled with
furniture hurriedly removed, and with people frightened
out of their houses, and anxious for the care of their little
property. Women and children might be seen without out-
door clothing in the cold evening, sitting as the household
sentries on their own share of the confused pile.

strength and resources of Mobile, and the magni-
tude of Gen. Grainger's expedition against it, are
equally unknown. At Wilmington the Confede-
rates have baffled the first attack of Admiral Por-