The Sun.
London, England, 1854-09-06 00:00:00

THE HERRING FISH ERIES IN THE

NORTH.

WICK, Sept. 2--The quantity of herrings brought
ashore here yesterday and to-day is only about 200 crane,
which will but add about two to the general average of
the whole fleet, making the average for the whole sea-
son, to the present date inclusive, 102 crane. As regards
quantity and average we are on much about a par with
those of the last twenty years. But if the whole Scotch
coast is taken into account the deficiency from the take
of last year is much greater than is generally believed.
In round numbers the decrease will be fully equal to
147,000 barrels, or fully more thah a fourth of the whole
of last year's catch. Of course, it is expected that. both
in the Wick district, and on the opposite shores of the
Moray Firth something will yet be done to diminish
this deficiency, but at Lybsterand Helmsdale the fishing
is practically over for a season, but here not more than
400 to 500 boats will again go to sea this year. So that
we do not calculate on a material difference in the above
figures. To-day about 1,500 men are paid off, and
nearly 10,0001. are in circulation in Wick and Pulteney-
town, in the payment of their wages and other items.
In the Lybster district about 4,0001. will also be paid
out to-day for hired men alone.

On Thiirsday night about two-thirds of the Lyb ster
boats were at sea, and landed yesterday morning au
average of about six crane. Helmsdale and Brora did
pretty well yesterday and Thursday ; and to-day there
are some heavy shots at the coast stations.

andTh
me fishingora has
y stations. th week
is
Taking been b
themn
aggregate,
about twenty cram have been added to the general ave•
rage for the season.
We have letters from Peterhead and Fraserburgh, per
steamer, dated yesterday morning. Peterhead will ave-
rage 73 crans for the season, against 95, and Fraser-
burgh 91 against 98, to the same date last year. At
both theie places the second week of September last
added 50 crans to the general average.
There has been a good deal done this week along the
Fife and Dunbar coasts. In one day 300 tons of fresh
herrings were despatched to the English markets. The
fishing of Weduesc:ay and Thursday had, however,
shown a falling off, and prices, which had fallen to 10s.
per cran, rallied till they reached 14s. to 16s.
Last accounts from Orkney are very unfavourable.
In the North Isles the fishing is a decided failure, not
a few boats having never measured a cran during the
whole season.
Since our last report the price of cured fish has risen
6d. per barrel. On the afternoon of that day 1,000
barrels of full crowned brands exchanged hands at 235. 6d.
per barrel. Yesterday there were not so many sales.
One or two parcels were got at 235., but the bulk of
those that were sold were at 235. 6d. To-day 235. 6d.
is the market price.
• •
Salt is still quoted at 28s. per ton. No inquiry after
empty barrels ; last price was 3s. 9d. each. T
awond hays
cargoes
of Norwegian Lille wood arrived yesterday,
been sold at 11d. per foot.—Northern Ensign.

LIRTHS IN LONDON.—Last week the births of 816
boys and SO9 girls, in all 1,625 children, were registered
n London. •In the nine corresponding weeks of the
tiL additionen,wh which
premiss,asbeen
male years 1845-53 the average number was 1,367.
E,ZlPtLoOtYhMeEoNcTeupFo3tßioWnsOompzen to x.—
well. Female fingers are henceforth not to exhaust all
their nimbleness in music or in their customary domestic
operations.
The electric telegraph solicits their assist-
ance. In the transmission 'of the Queen's Speech on the
prorogation of Parliament to the provinces and the con-
tinent female labour was employed, and the whole was
accomplished with unusual celerity. The girls were
superintended by a matron telegrapher. Some of them,
it is said, transmitted the speech at the rate of thirty-
fire- words a minute. They sent the whole to the Conti-
pent (rid the Hague) in twenty reinates. The Electric
Telegraph Company deserves commendation for setting
this example. Why should not women be employed in
the p ost-offi:
e
The
eer personsanalogous o
performcases for
that duty in
letter-sorting
seem to have constituted a difficultyy at
in the way of the
improvements contemplated by the late commissioners.
Their report does not Contain any
evidence that they
considered the possibility of employing w
capacity. Girls who could transmit 35 words
by electric telegraph would soon outstrip theoinn
leadasminwihattatonate
we now employ in sorting letters. The sorting of 60
, letters a minute is, we believe, the greatest feat of clew•
terity they can accomplish.—Athenctun.
••