The Sun.
London, England, 1846-09-15 00:00:00

THE IRON TRADE.

in our nOtice of the state of the iron trade last week,
we mentioned that the contemplated advance of price
gralt attention should be F.2jd to the exports, which com-
prise SC large. a portion of Ole tCousumption of iron.
Another serious Consideration also presents itself,
namely, the consequences with respect to ::22e rate of
wages, and the facility of getting labour perfozzied.
The workmen would, in all probability, in case of t
general advance upon iron, demand a share of the
advantage—but that the masters have a fair
answer to such a demand cannot be denied ;
for it is notorious that the workmen are now
receiving a rate of wages- much higher than
corresponds with the present price of iron, ac-
cording to previous comparative rates in the district.
The high wages consequent upon the unfortunate ad-
vance of two pounds per ton, when the nominal price of
bars was fixed at twelve pounds, have in but few in-
stances been reduced; and the wages now received by
the workmen connected with the manufacturing of iron,
or raising material, are nearly at the maximum ever
earned in the recollection of the oldest persons engaged
in the trade. Instead of profiting by this opportunity
to provide against old age or misfortune, the men are con-
tinually to be found in the alehouse or beer-shop, or on
the peg alley; while at every fair, or race, or
wake within reach, or on any other, the moss
trifling excuse, they absent themselves from their
work, to the great loss and annoyance of their employers.
' And indeed to such a degree is this neglect of work car-
ried, that orders, where the time of completion is stiptaa -
lated, have been refused by many parties, and can.,
I scarcely be undertaken at all. It becomes, therefore, a
question of moment, whether a demand of higher wages
ought to be and could be effectually resisted; as, if un-
fortunately it should be raised and conceded, the dime
culty of procuring the attendance of men to their work
would be vastly increased, and a much less quantity of
iron than at present would be manufactured. We are
far from advocating the system of low wages, or wishing
to reduce the labourer to the minimum upon which he
can support his family ; but when, as at the present
moment, among colliers and miners in particular, we see
more than the extra earnings universally squandered in
vice and immorality, and their families more neglected
and distressed than during the prevalence of low
wages, we are constrained to think that, until by a
little more intellectual cultivation they - have been
taught to regulate the animal passions, Ahare is a
limit of earnings which it is injurious f* them to
exceed. The prevailing opinion that ircaunanieirs ere
now realising enormous profits is altogether tie.,
luaLaa,vca =lay erast. uuuer very rassoarable eireunt-
stances and situations where a fair remuneration -la
obtained ; but at the present rate of wages and mate-
rials it must be evident to any one conversant with the
details of the trade, that for some months iron has
not been made, where the materials have been sup-
plied by purchase, at the price for which it has
been sold. That such a state of things will be pro-
longed under the present pressure of orders, and.
with the certain prospect of a steady and increasing
demand, is scarcely to be expected or wished by any
parties. Capital expended, and works carried on with
judgment, perseverance, and caution, ought at all times
to command a remunerative return. These considera-
tions, and many others, together with facts which are
daily coming under notice, will doubtless be well and
seriously weighed in all their bearings, while late ex-
perience will teach the due value of the flaming repre-
sentation of golden prospects, and twenty per cent.
profits for twenty years to come, indulged in by some
parties ; and from the information, talent, and judg-
ment of the gentlemen who occupy the leading position
in the iron trade, the result of their deliberations at the
approaching quarterly meeting is expented to be of such
a nature as, while it evidences a dt regard for the mer-
cantile interest, will strengthen public confibdence, and
be carried out with the greatest unanimity
iu general.—Aris's Birnzingham Gazette. the trade

HERRING TRADE.
(From the Caledonian Mercury.)
ANSTRUTHER, SEPTEMBER 9.—As we anticipated,
the herrings have come to the north shore, and a num-
ber of boats are just now seen from the coast
hauling their nets with a great appearance of herrings.
The price to-day was 9s. per cran ; and at this date
the average take at this station is 245 crans per boat.
10th. The fishing continues to be prosecuted with un-
abated success. There have been heavy takes off Pitten-
weem this morning, and the prices have again fallen Gs.
and 7s. per cran. If the weather keeps moderate, heavy
shots may be expected, as the tides are favourable and
the water smooth. The curers, after having repacked
their cured herrings, have a good many empty barrels
over, which they are in course of refilling; but the stock
here must soon be exhausted, and unless there are
some new arrivals of fish curers and stock, the ti:.zhing
will soon be discontinued for want of buyers. Had the
East of Fife Railway been in operation, the fishing must;
have been a source of considerable profit to it
during the last two months, besides what is to follow, as
station gives promise of being one of the best fished
in Scotland.
BERWICK, SEPT. 11.—Our herring fishing seems now
to be over for this season, and the boats here average
about 100 crans. For this take they have been out to
sea about 40 times, and the weather has never prevented
them going—a circumstance that very rarely occurs.
The highest boat has fished about 200 crans, and many
have not above 50. There has been a great loss of nets..
Picliled herrings are selling at 21s. per barrel.
RASERBURGII, KEPT. lo.—Dtrangers nave now gamy
home, and native crews are departing in quest of winter
bait. The season has been exceedingly propitious, and,
with the exception of a fisherman drowned last night,
unattended by serious accident. Average of our fleet of
284 boats is 190 crans.
Non= STINDERLAND, SEPT. 10.—The herring fishing
is now nearly brought to a close. Since our last there
has been no trial made at this place until last night,
when two boats went to sea, and this morning (Thurs-
day) they have not yet returned. We hear there has
been a good fishing at Boulmer yesterday morning; from.
2,000 to 6,000 herrings were got per boat, but only five
boats were at sea. If the weather keeps fine, the Boulmer
fishermen still expect to have a good take.
BOLT ISLAND, SYPT. 10.—The fishing is now nearly
concluded here. On Tucsday night one boat put off, and
had just two hundred and a half herrings. Three boats
were out at sea on Wednesday night, and the highest on
Thursday morning had three eral:fi. The tides being so
very heavy, is thought by some to be the cause of the
scarcity; others think that the season is over.
WICK, SEPT. 10.—Our fishing is now entirely over
for a season. The total average for the seaS"oll, of all
the boats fishing in the Wick district, is, therefore,. 103
crans, and the fishing about an average one. At Lybster,
Swiney, Dunbeath, Latheronwheel, and the neighbour--
ing stations, however, the fishing is far below an average
one, and consequently the total quantity caught on the
Caithness coast, this year, is considerably under that of
the former season.

THE SWELL MOB AT CHATHAM.—In consequence
of the influx of business, arising out of offences on the
race-course at Chatham, the county magistrates, after
being occupied for several hours on Friday, met again
on Saturday morning, when several cases were brought
before them, but as they were all the offences of adroit
thieves, the missing articles had in every instance passed
into other hands, and the charges were in consequence
disposed of in a summary way. Not only on the race-
course, but also at the steam-boat piers, and on board
the boats, which were crowded to excess, the light-
fingered gentry were on the alert, and much property
changed hands ; amongst the sufferers, a Noble Lord
(Calthorpe) lost a valuable gold watch and appendages.
John Smith, apprehended on suspicion of having stolen
a silver watch, the property of Mr. Alfred Foreman, of
Stone-street, Maidstone' who, while sitting in a booth,
and his attention being fixed on the performance of an
itinerant musician, the prisoner, having first cut the
guard, was observed to slip the watch from Mr. Foreman's
waistcoat pocket. He was committed to the House of
Correction, with hard labour, for one month. Other
cases of a similar nature were heard; the parties were
all committed to the House of Correctien, with hard
labour, for short periods.
PROVIVENTIAL ESCAPE FROM DROWNING.—
FEMALE INTREPIDITY.—On Monday. last, as the Misses
Crow, of Derriwillan, near Tynagh, in this county, were
returning from the sea-shore to their lodge at Curren-
rue, where the family are at present residing, they
heard an agonising shriek, and, on turning round, they
saw &little boy running towards them, exclaiming that
his brother, a young lad, was drowning in the sea. Both
young ladies hastened to the spot pointed out, and ar-
rived as the youth made his appearance a second time
on the surface of the water. In a moment he was down
again, and immediately Miss Crow, throwing away her
cloak and bonnet, rushed into the water to save him,
but, the place being awfully steep, before she was
able to reach him she got beyond her depth, and down
she went also. Miss Lucy Crow seeing her sister
in such imminent danger, plunged in to her rescue, but
she had not proceeded many yards when she found she
could not go further without placing herself in the same
perilous position, and that then all would be lost. In
agonising suspense she stretched forth her hand to save
her ; alas ! it was useless ; they were too far sounder,
and down she went again, overpowered by the weight of
the little boy, who, by this time, got entangled with the
grasp of the dying, in her hair and neck. But, as if
Providence would . have it so, this time she was shoved
by the force of the waves on a rock in the water, and
for a moment, resting her foot upon it, the brave girt
sprung forward so as to be enabled to meet the out-
stretched arm of her equally intrepid sister, who, at
length, succeeded in bringing herself and her young
charge in safety to the shore. One is at a loss which
to admire the intrepid bravery of the one or the judg-
ment and presence of mind of the other of these young
ladies, who, when returning to Derriwillin, will carry
with them the blessings of the parents and friends of the
youth whose life they thus, at the risk of their own, pro-
videntially saved.—Galway Ale,cury.
SINGULAR FACT.—There is now living at Farring-
ton Gurney, a young woman named -- Comber, aged
about 20 years, daughter of James Comber, stone-mason,
who has not tasted a morsel of solid food the last nine
years. In or about the year 1837 she had a sister die,
and the occupation of her mother required her absence
daily from home, leaving the present afflicted daughter
in the house with the corpse. It is conjectured that this
circumstance affected her mind, and worked upon her
nerves so strongly, that it induced her affliction. She,
in a short time, gradually weakened and took to her bed,
where she was seized with locked jaw, and from that
time to the present she has not opened her mouth. The
only sustenance which bas been taken into her stomach
is fluid, which is passed into her mouth with a spoon
through a small opening where a tooth is missing. And
although lying in this state for such a length of tin*, she
has grown nearly six inches in length, she is quite sen.
sible, happy, and resigned, and appear* to be often en-
gaged in prayer,—Bath Journal.