The Sun.
London, England, 1861-03-30 00:00:00

TEE BARBOUR& BILL.

(From the Northern Ensign.)
The bill introduced by Mr. Milner Gibson, on
the subject of harbours, does apply to Scotland.
From the extract given elsewhere, it will be seen
that the measure is one of great importance, and
we have no doubt that many Harbour Boards will
not fail to take advantage of it, particularly those
of Serabster, Lossiemouth, Fraserburgh, and such
like.

With regard to Wick, the bill is just what is
needed, provided al ways that Government first agree
to a grant, in terms of the report of the Royal
Commission. That secured, the end is gained, and
the work will commence.

In the present state of pending negotiations we
cannot publish anything definite. But we are au-
thorised to state that every effort is being made to
obtain the consent of Government, and we believe
we are correct in stating that on the amount which
the British Fishery Society will contribute de-
pends greatly whether the Treasury will consent
to carry out the recommendations of the Com-
missioners.

We have taken the liberty of suggesting to the
members for the County and Burgh, of whose
exertions too much cannot be said in approval,
that the Society should go to the Treasury and
offer to pay in £35,000. That sum would ren-
der unnecessary any drain upon the public
purse for a couple of years. On its absorption,
let the Government give £25,000 annually for six
years, making in all an expenditure of £160,000
in eight years. On the laying out of £lOO,OOO on
the works, let the new tariff come into operation,
securing an additional revenue of £5,000 to £7,000
a-year, and perhaps more, and raising the total
harbour dues to £B,OOO a-year at least. By this
time the Society's funds would be augmented to
some £50,000, and on that sum being expended
the works would be so far advanced that the
borrowing of money to complete them would not
be necessary. Or if the Society preferred taking
advantage of the proposed Act, the borrowing of
£60,000 would only involve an annual payment
of interest little more than £l,BOO, and the prin-
cipal could be paid back in 20 years.
To us it appears the matter is one of the greatest
simplicity, and while we have no doubt our mem-
bers and others interested in this great cause will
persevere in their efforts, we have the best
authority for st _ding that the success of the ques-
tion now greatly depends on the Directors of the
British Fishery Society. If they manifest suit-
able liberality in their overtures to the Govern-
ment, we have no doubt whatever that before
many months pass the commencement of operations
will, have taken place, and a successful termination
he witnessed to what one of our representatives,
in a recent letter to us, calls this hard fought
battle.' We hope in a few days to have pretty
accurate information in regard to the proba-
bilities of the negotiations now going on.

Captain Sir P. Leopold iv.l'Clinto'ck, before
leaving England to command the Doris, honoured Mr
Edwin Sutton, of 204, Regent-street, with a sitting for a
photographic portrait, who succeeded in obtaining a perfect
likeness, both in execution and correctness, of that gentle-
man, whose services in the Arctic regions will ever be re-
membered with gratitude by his country. A copy is to Ifi
presented to the Admiralty, and cue also to Lady