The Sun.
London, England, 1861-04-20 00:00:00

Mr. H. Dempster, formerly a pilot of Bombay harbour,
H.E.I.C. Service, inventor of a new system of building
and rigging sailing craft, a new trawl net, a new code of
signals, and who has advocated fishery extension and fish-
market improvements for upwards of 20 years, and, like all
inventors, finds the road steep and rugged to get along, has
only latterly performed an adventure, to promote the general
public welfare, that we scarcely did expect of him at his ad-
vanced stage. Mr. Dempster's statement here a few days
since shows how he has been employed. He says :
" Laurie, mapseller to the Admiralty, wishing to for-
ward the plan of my portable flag telegraph, printed some
sheets with preliminary description, and circulated them
amongst parties he thought would adopt it. The frame,
with flags and portable case, he left for me to get up ; and
when I had a pair finished, and ready for practical experi-
ment, I left Edinburgh with two distinct objects in view :
One was to call at all fishing stations along the coast from
Newhaven. to Berwick-upon-Tweed, and from thence to
North Sunderland, Boulmer, Alnmouth, and on to New-
castle, urging fishermen to adopt decked-fishing craft in-
stead of open boats to pursue their calling, and to build
breakwaters and deep-water harbours, for their security at
all times of tide. As I walked every foot of ground from
station to station, the turnings and windings making the
distance considerable, together with the time expended, ex-
plaining my views, &c., my journey occupied about nine
days. The newspapers at Berwick-upon-Tweed and at
Newcastle reported fully my advocacy for fishery exten-
sion and fishmarket improvements, Whilst visiting the
different fishing stations, it was gratifying to see that the
fishermen at Eyemouth and Burnmouth have, within the
last six years, built themselves an entire new class of
decked-fishing boats for the winter while fishing.
Had those men a deep water harbour thereabouts,
to protect deck-welled smacks and trawlers, I believe they
would go on improving their trade until the desideratum
sought after be acquired—' a full supply of seasonable fish
at all times of the year.' Beyond these decked fishing
boats mentioned at Eyemouth and Burnmouth (about 50
in number), all the rest, from Whitby, in Yorkshire, to
John o'Groats, on the northermost point of Scotland, are
chiefly open fishing cobles, with some half-decked boats, or.
as the fishermen term them, " the dens." As the portable
flag telegraph is adapted for land as well as sea purposes,
since my arrival in London (6th April) I have called on
several official parties, and explained its use and easy. prac-
ticability. His Royal Highness the Commander-in-Chief
and the Adjutant-General examined it at the Horse Guards,
and the President of the Select Committee for Improve-
ments looked at it in the War-office. Everybody pronounces
it to be simple, perfect, and ready for action; but the diffi-
culty that stands in the way of improvements is the giving
up of old-established systems to make room for new ones,
however good they may be. It was hinted to me to go to
Aldershot and experiment from one hill to another, but the
framework of telegraph I brought with me being only 3ft.
upon a side is scarcely large enough for very long distances.
To give the telegraph a fair trial for army purposes, I would
suggest the frame should at least be Gft, upon a side, and
for ship use Bft. There is an opening in the new commer-
cial code for a system to show colours distinctly during
light winds and calms. The portable flag telegraph is
splendidly adapted for such requirements, and Laurie'
will without doubt press forward and fill up the vacuum."

FROM THE GAZETTE OF LAST NIGHT.

CROWN OFFICE, APRIL 19.
ATE3IBER RE TURNED TO SERVE IN THE PRESENT
PARLIAMENT.

Borough of Marylebene—John Harvey Lewis, of Gros-
venor-street, in the county of Middlesex, Esq,' in the room
of Edwin John James, Esq., who has accepted the office of
Steward of her Majesty's Manor of Northstead.