The Sun.
London, England, 1846-08-19 00:00:00

THE HERRING
.FISHERIES

BERWICK, Auo. 14.—Our take of herrings on the
first part of the week was very good, but these two
mornings past there has been a great falling off ; the
fish haviug apparently shifted their ground. Tuesday
morning most of the boats were successful ; highest 20
crans. Wednesday, highest take 27 crans. Thursday,
highest 12 crans. Friday, highest boat 3 crans,
and several boats clean. Several of our boats did not
venture out last night, in consequence of the threaten-
ing aspect of the weather. The fishermen say there is
a large amount of fish on the coast, and the shoal must
have shifted, as the French boats seem to have removed.
These last, it appears, follow the fish with more skill
than even our boats can ; they are also better able to
watch the movements of the shoal, being at sea all the
day. Our men are full of complaints of their agressions
on the top of their nets ; boats as large as 70 tons
shooting nearer the shore than even our men dare do,
and considerable damage has been done to our men's
nets in this way. Three cargoes of herrings have gone
southwards this week, and the market is still open to
buyers. Price 145. per cran to cadgers.
EvEMOUTH.—This week's fishing has been far the best
this season. On Tuesday and Wednesday morning the
takes were from 10 to 35 crans per boat ; prices from
12-. 6d to 16s. 6d. per cran—the latter price was given
by the Yarmouth vessels. Six of them have sailed
during the week with full cargoes. This morning
(Thursday) the fishing has fallen off; the takes are not
so heavy, and there are a good number of spent fish.
I)oNi:wt.—During the week there has been a fair
average fishing. A few boats have to the extent of 30
and 35, but snore generally the amount is from ten to
20 crans, owing to the number of foreigners ; the quan-
tities of fish sent in a fresh state by the rail, and the
anxiety of the home curers to make a beginning, prices ,
still keep at 15s. and 16s.

HOLY .ISLAND.—In consequence of the very thick fog
that prevailed, our fishermen did very little last week.'
The weather, however, having cleared in some degree on
Sunday several of the boats put off in the even-
ing. The highest take on Monday was 13 crans. On
Monday a few of the boats went south, and on Tuesday
one boat had 49 crans—others a few hundreds. On
Wednesday the highest we heard of was 27 crans.
NORTH SUNDERLAND.—Our fishermen have been very
succetsful in the herring fishing during the past week,
and if their labours be attended by the like success for a
short time longer, many of them will have their full com-
plement. At Beadnell and Newton they have been
equally- fortunate, although here as well as at Beadnell
and Newton one or two have lost part of their nets. On
Friday, Saturday, and Monday mornings, the boats were
not all at the fishing, but those which were met with fair
success. On Tuesday and Wednesday mornings the
take was large, top boats 56 and 64 barrels each, Mon-
day and Tuesday prices were I4s. to 16s. ; Wednesday
I is. to 13s. One boat received on Tuesday morning in
cash 511. 4s. On the whole the fishing this week, up to
Wednesday, has been the best we have experienced for
two or three years.

ANSTRUTI3ER.—The fishing has not much improved.
We give the highest takes from the Ist of August:—
Aug. 1, 1 cran; Aug. 4, 1 cran; Aug. 5, 6 crans; Aug-.
6, 10 crans; Aug. 7, 11 crans; Aug. 8, 10 crans. On
Thursday last the fishing was general.
ST. MoNANcE.—The success of the fishermen still
continues limited and partial, and the adventures of seve-
ral nights have resulted in almost total failure. Up to
Saturday last the heaviest draught brought into this
harbour has not exceeded seven crans; and the price has
ranged from eighteen shillings to twenty-five shillings
per Gran. _

ZETLAND, AuG. 3.—The cod fishing has now ter-
minated, and, upon the whole, has been a complete
failure. A few of the boats have tried the herring fish-
ing, but without success, and it is currently stated that
there is no great prospect.

DISCHARGED PRISONERS.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.
SlR,—The change of administration has slightly re-
tarded the measures for rescuing misguided individuals,
and preventing them becoming, from necessity, the in-
mates of our jails; but I am happy to announce thus pub-
licly through the medium of your excellent paper, that
yesterday, a deputation, headed by the Bishop of London,
waited upon Sir George Grey at the Home Office, and
were pleased to hear him express his great anxiety on
so important a subject, which shall have the serious
consideration of her Majesty's Government during the
recess, which must produce a remedy.
When it is consit ered that the returns for the last
year show a frightful picture of 30,000 convictions—to
say nothing of acquittals; and when from my own ex-
perience last week I found in Newgate, out of 150 cases
for trial. 52 of that number had been there before ; in
Giltspur-street Prison, out of 91 cases, 60 of that
number had been repeatedly there before ; one woman
declared, in the presence of the Governor, that she had
been in that prison for the last 20 years. Now, with
such a state of things, with no remedy provided, no re-
source left, but on leaving prison to commit fresh crimes,
the warning of the magistrates, the admonition of the
judge, the exhortation from the prison pulpit, appear to
me but a " solemn mockery."
It is fearful to look at the extent of our " criminal po-
pulation," with no adequate means offered, but one or
two charitable institutions, with limited means, which
can never meet the evil; and nothingibut a legislative
national measure, giving voluntary shelter and employ-
ment, can effectually produce a remedy which all the
corporations in England have petitioned the Legislature
to adopt.
Whilst such a state of things exists, I will not fail to
impress upon both Houses of Parliament the painful
picture so destructive to morality, so degrading to us as
a Christian community ; and whilst, on the one hand, I
would by no means screen the guilty, but severely
punish, yet I do think we are bound to offer and to
extend mercy to so large a portion of helpless indivi-
duals, who still gladly avail themselves of it, and save
them from endless destruction.
I am, Sir, your humble servant,
JOHN LAURIE,
Sheriff of London and Middlesex.
No. 1, Hyde Park-place, Aug. 18, 1846.

PRICE or GOLD.—The premium on gold at Paris is
16 per mille, which, at the English Mint price of 31. 17s.
101/2d. per ounce for standard gold, gives an exchange of 25
55 ; and the exchange at Paris on London at short being 25
7 71,4, it follows that gold is 0.87 per cent. dearer in London
than in Paris. By advices from Hamburgh the price of gold
is 43514 per mark, which, at the English Mint price of 31. 17s.
101%d. per ounce for standard gold, gives an exchange of
13 101 ; and the exchange at Hamburgh on London at short
being 13 114, it follows that gold i 3 OM per cent. dearer in
London than in ilaniburgh.