The Sun.
London, England, 1860-08-09 00:00:00

BRI7 ISII FIS.HERIES.

The annual report of the Commissioners for the
British Fisheries has been presented to Parliament.
This is a very important brsnoh of industry ; in
the year 18.59 12,80 boats, manned by 43,062
fishermen and boys, were employed in the herring,
cod, and ling fisheries, and the estimated value of
the boats, nets, and lines is £739,096 ; besides
which, these fisheries also furnished employment to
9,267 seamen, and no less than 49,022 other per-
sons, making a total of 101,351, independently of
927 seamen in foreign boats. The herring fishery
was remarkably short in its produce on the east
coast, and the quantity cured has not been so
small in any year since 1837. No cause can
be assigned for such fluctuations in the take,
but it is hoped that the time is not far dis-
tant when the migrations of the fish will be
explained. The quantity of herrings cured
during the year was 491,487 barrels, branded
158,676, exported 272,979 ; the quantity cured
was 117,488 barrels less than the average of the
three preceding years—a very great falling off. Of
the export 203,349 barrels went to the Continent,
68,882 to Ireland, and 748 to the colonies. The
branding is voluntary, and a fee is now charged for
it, but eminent foreign houses prefer to carry on
their dealings by it, and nearly one-third of the
whole quer tity cured was presented for branding,
the fees realising £2,644. The estimate taken by
the Commissioners of Inquiry of the cost of brand-
ing was £3,380, and, if the fishing had proved
equal to that of last year, the amount would have
been realised. This is the first year of the fee, and
the proportion branded is equal to the average
brandings of the previous 12 years, when the brand-
ing was given gratis, so that the imposition of the
fee has not affected the demand for the brand. In
the cod and ling department the year's returns
show an increase ; 118,383 cwt. were cured dried,
and 5,362 barrels in pickle, and the quantity ex-
ported was 35,923 cwt. cured dried. The extensive
improvements at Dunbar are proceeding success-
fully ; such is the stormy character of that coast,
that though the new sea wall is 22 feet above the
level of high water of spring tides, yet, in bad
weather the spray frequently rises upwards of 50
feet above the cope of the wall. The report enters at
some length into the disputes respecting trawling for
herrings, which is prohibited, but the prohibition is
too indiscriminate and difficult to be enforced.
The Lord-Advocate has been passing a bill through
Parliament upon the subject. Of the intellectual
eondition of the fishermen and their families a very
unfavourable account is given by Mr. Middleton,
inspector of schools, in his report this year upon
the north-eastern division of Scotland. He expresses
his belief that the average school attendance of
fishermen's children, when they do attend school,
is not more than three months in the year. The
conditions of existence among this class of our coun-
trymen, he says, do not require much aid from the
schoolmaster ; and their migratory habits, caused
by the herring fishing drawing them (often with
their whole families) from their villages to a few
central points for three months in summer, together
with the limited ideas and limited earthly hopes of
the parents, their continual struggle with the in-
constant sea, which necessitates the labour of old
and young in fine weather, the feast in prosperity,
the fast in adversity, combine to cause such neglect
of schooling as is equalled in none other of the in-
dustrial classes. They are almost a distinct people
everywhere, and nearly as exclusive in their mar-
riages as the Sews ; rarely is there an exception to
the rule of fisherman to fisherwoman.

THE JEWS' ACT.—The Act passed on Monday to
amend the Jews' Act was issued on Wednesday. It is now
provided that whenever the House of Commons shall order
that any resolution agreed to pursuant to the Ist section of
the 21st and 22d Victoria, cap. 49, in the'sante Session shall
be a standing order of the house, any member professing
the Jewish religion may thenceforth be sworn pursuant to
such standing order, so long as the same shall continuo in
force ; and it shall be lawful for such member, in taking
and subscribing the oath which, by the recited Act, was
substituted for the oaths, to omit the words " and I make
this declaration on the true faith of a Christian ;" and the
taking and subscribing by such member of the oath so
modified shall, so far as respects the title to sit and vote in
the house, have the same force and effect as the taking and
subscribing by other members of the said oath in the form
required.
[ADVERTISEMENT.] -- Pills and medicine invariably ag-
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appointment, and expense may be avoided by persons
in indifferent health sending only their address to E.
S. Barry, Esq., 77, Regent-street, W., London, and they
will receive gratis and free by post the " INVALIDS' Owt
GUIDE," or Natural Restorer, without medicine or ex-
pense, of perfect digestion, strong nerves, sound lungs, and
refreshing sleep, to the most enfeebled, insuring the removal
of indigestion (dyspepsia), constipation, liver complaints,
nausea, epilepsy, paralysis, debility, nervousness, palpitation,
cough, asthma, consumption, dropsy, flatulency, diarrhoea,
dysentery, biliousness, fevers, sore throats, catarrhs, colds,
noises in the ears, rheumatism, gout, impurities, eruptions,
hysteria, neuralgia, irritability, sleeplessness, acidity, palpi-
tation, heartburn, headache, despondency, cramps, spasms,
sinking, fits, bronokitis.—" Unquestionably the safest Quids
to health."

Admiral Eden and Capt. Frederick (two of the
Lords of the Admiralty) paid au official visit of in-
spection to the fleet of blockships now assembled at
Portland, on Tuesday afternoon. The gallant offi-
cers were conveyed from Weymouth to the float by
the steam tender Argus, and, on arriving at the
western extremity of the two lines of ships, the
flagship Colossus saluted in the usual manner.
After the inspection was over the gallant admiral
and captain returned to Weymouth.
The crew of the Indus, 78, steam ordinary guard-
ship, Capt. A. C. Key, at Devonport, were paid
wages on Tuesday, up to June 30. Admiral Sir
Thomas Pasley presided.

The screw steam frigate Emerald, 51, Captain
Arthur Cumming, having had her false keel re-
paired, and defects made good at Devonport, went
from Hamoaze, into Plymouth Sound on Tuesday.
The crew of the paddle-wheel steam-sloop Gey-
ser, 6, Commander George M. Jackson, at Devon-
port, were inspected and mustered on Tuesday
afternoon by Capt. Jerningham, of the gunnery
ship Cambridge.
The Tribune, 31, screw, Capt. G. T. Hornby, will
be paid off at Portsmouth to-day.
The Torch, 5, screw gunvessel, Commander
Smith, took in powder ;and shell at Spithead yes-
terday, and will sail to the westward so soon as the
weather moderates.

SHIP LAU/WM—The following are the dimen-
sions of the Gibraltar, 101, to be launched folll
No. .5 slip at Devonp-ort, at half-past fianron Thurs.,
day, the 16th inst. :—Principal dimensions—length
between perpendiculars, 252 feet ; keel for tonnage,
213 feet 91 inches ; breadth extreme, 58 feet ; depth
in hold, 25 feet 6 inches ; burden in tone, 3715 62-94.
Capacious booths are erected for the accommoda-
tion of visitors, admission to which is by cards
issuea by the Admiralty superintendent and officers
of the establishment. The gates will be thrown
open to the public at 2 p.m., and the workmen will
be allowed the usual half holiday.
The following Commanders have been promoted
to be Captains :—H. Trollope, J. A. P. Price, W.
Armitage, R. H. Risk, T. M. S. Pasley, and the Hon.
F. A. Forbes. The following Lieutenants have been
promoted to be Commanders :—J. B. Field, L. C. H.
Robinson,P.Saumarez, S. J. Greville, C. M. Buckle,
E. C. Symons, C. H. Simpson, L. J. Moore, E. Nares,
A. J. Kingston, J. E. Bickford, E. H. L. Ray, C. T.
Sago, C. J. Wray, C. Fairholme, T. R. Purvis, W.
H. Edge, L. H. Versturine, the Hon. E. G. L.
Cochrane, C. R. F. Boxex, and J. S. Graham. Mr.
A. T. Powlett, Mate, has been promoted to be Lieu-
tenant.

The following appointments were made yester-
day at the Admiralty :—Commander M. Dunn to be
Inspecting Commander of the Coastguard, vice
Jackson, appointed to the Formidable ; Commander
C. W. Bonham to the Victory; Lieut. E. F. Lodder
to command the Jackal, vice Simpson, promoted ;
Lieut. Francis G. Suttie to be Flag Lieutenant to
the Victory ; Lieut. R. G. S. Pasley to the Cressy;
Thomas Bourchier and John G. Boulton, Masters
additional to the Pelorus ; Henry Studdy and
Charles Mason, midshipmen, to the Hornet.