The Sun.
London, England, 1850-11-12 00:00:00

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LONDON, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 1850.

Exertions were not long since made by one of our
correspondents to direct general attention to the many
anomalies existing in the system of deep-sea fisheries.
The arguments advanced by Mr. DEMPSTER, for the
purpose of demonstrating the folly of the present plans
of arrangement may not be altogether lost to the re-
collection cf our readers. Those arguments, it may
be remembered, were in no respect based upon rhe-
tarical sophistries or merely specious declamation.
They were founded upon facts collected together by
the writer from the most authentic sources, but prin-
cipally, we should remark, from his own individual
observation. Acquainted himself very intimately with
the evils arising out of the preference given to fish
caught along shore in open boats, instead of to the
fish caught in the deep seas and conveyed in the
decked welled smacks to the London markets—he
was solicitous to force the same truth upon the con-
victionof the metropolitan fishmongers. Fortunately
for his argument, in the very thick of its discussion,
a gale came on, as if for the very purpose of illus.
trating the shortsightedness of the changes latterly
introduced. From being in a manner glutted
with the produce of the along-shore fish-
eries, the market of the capital was almost
entirely without any supply of fish whatever. The
open boats were unable to administer to the wants of
the metropolis in consequence of the foul weather.
At the same time so many of the decked smacks
hitherto employed in the deep-sea fisheries had been
abandoned through the preference given to their more
frail competitors, that the fishmongers of London
looked in vain to them for the relief of their abrupt
and temporary requirements. The reason for all this
was obvious. In consequence of the increased facili-
ties afforded in the transmission of goods by the rail-
ways threading more or less the whole surface of the
united Kingdom, the inferior kinds of fish caught
with less trouble along shore could be forwarded by
rail from all quarters to the metropolitan market--
tempting the trade to purchase by their cheapness when
compared with the produce of the deep-sea fisheries.
The result of all this was inevitable. The number
of decked smacks employed at one period in the diffe-
rent ports of England, with a view simply to supply
the necessities of the London market from, being not
fewer than four hundred on the aggregate, fell off
in a scale of rapid diminution. Insomuch, that ac-
cording to the estimate formed by Mr. DEMPSTER,
there are at present scarcely more than half the ori-
ginal number. So disastrous indeed was the influ-
WSP PEttence of this unlucky preference on the part of the
- ,London fishmongers, that the writer assures us in a
eeee
anent statement, " whilst in London, I discovered
thwt the very system of fishing I had so long held up
as an example for our northern fishermen to adopt,
- e
was in the south every day falling to decay, going to
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THE SUN,

wreck and ruination." Seeing this, our correspon-
dent determined at last to memorialise the various
authorities. From the Directors of the Hon. East
India Company, it is true, he obtained a little indivi-
dual patronage, as also in like manner from the Hon.
the Brethren of the Trinity, and among others from
the Right Hon. the Lord Mayor of London. Other-
wise his applications proved everywhere unsuccessful.
The Lords of the Admiralty contented themselves
with co9lly referring him to the Board of Fisheries, and
the Board of Fisheries satisfied their consciences
by assuring him that beyond the cured fish department
they had no powers granted them to aid in any im-
provement. With regard to green fish and the fish
markets, all wholesome reform is abandoned by the
Government "entirely to the superintendence of the
local authorities." To the Board of Fisheries, there-
fore, we may continue to look in vain for any satis-
factory innovation.

In consequence of this prevailing apathy in refe-
rence to an important branch of the national in-
dustry, Mr. DEMPSTER found the whole of his more
hopeful anticipations dissipated. His account of his
disappointment under these circumstances we shall
give in his own words. " Having pushed my views,',
says he, "as far as I possibly could with the slender
means at my disposal, and my anticipations beginning
to flag that the fishmongers of London were likely
soon to remunerate me for my labours, in pointing
out to them that they were off the direct road for
promoting any improvement in the quality of their
fishmarketing system, last June I left London again
to return to Scotland ; reluctantly enough, none need
to doubt, as I had failed in my proposal to return
to India. On my passage northward, I called at
Hull, Newcastle, and North Shields, inquiring into
the condition of their fisheries and fishmarkets. At
the last-mentioned place I again met with another
vexatious disappointment. My small experimental
model yacht, named The Problem, was hauled up on
the beach there, and had been lying for several years,
' a novelty which many went to look at. Whilst in
London I had suggested to some that had I that little
vessel on the Serpentine River, Hyde-park, during
the year 1851, she might cause some attraction. But
how vain is it for man to build up his hopes for the
attainment of any hobby on this earth ! Whilst I was
all unconscious but that the little vessel was lying at
Shields unmolested, as she had been for a considerable
time, it appears that some marauders had broken the
vessel up and taken every inch of her away to dispose
of (in all likelihood) for old material. She was iron,
and strongly built, with 17 cwt. of lead run into her
angular keel. In all probability the lead was the
bait that tempted. No one could give me any tidings
as to who the perpetrators were ; all said the work of
destruction must have been carried on during the
dark hours of night." Complaint of any kind, he
justly remarks, would only have subjected him, in
addition to his loss, to a large amount of ridicule.
He is, therefore, reluctantly compelled to put up with
his misfortune, and to work out his " Problem" as
be best can, without indulging himself in useless la-
mentations.

Added to the suggestions already advanced by Mr.
DEMPSTER, in reference to the subject of deep-sea
fisheries, there is yet another bearing directly upon
yet larger interests, we mean one affecting the uni-
versal interests of navigation. An entirely novel
plan of telegraphing at sea has been submitted by him
(but hitherto without effect) to public scrutiny, a plan
by which signals may be made on a new principle of
changing colours "so as to symbolise the twenty-
eight characters of the printer's alphabet." The ad-
vantages arising out of an efficient system of this cha-
racter are sufficiently apparent to remove any neces-
sity for their enumeration. But, however apparent
they may be, and in this instance unquestionably are,
the propounder of any such theory must inevitably
look forward to its treatment at the outset as a cro-
chetty and visionary contrivance.
Under all considerations we cannot but regret the
ill success which has been hitherto experienced by
propositions Which, if sound, must be so eminently
calculated to advance the interests in one case of the
fisheries especially, and in another of the whole sys-
tem of navigation. If, as the Honourable Board of
East India Directors conceive, Mr. DEMPSTER is now
too old to return to India and resume his former du-
ties as pilot, he is possessed at any rate of energies
sufficient to infuse a spirit of enterprise into the de-
caying system of our own deep-sea fisheries. his
abilities ,and experience, for instance, might be well
employed in the promotion of the Irish fisheries and
in their general superintendence. An appointment of
this character, we are satisfied, while compensating an
excellent servant of the public for his many and
grievous losses, would be singularly advantageous to
Ireland and creditable to the Government.

It is to be regretted that the attention of English
capitalists his not been more strongly directed to the
extraordinary inducements now afforded for Irish in-
vestments. Never at any former period have so
many and so great advantages been offered to pur-
chasers. Estates of the most eligible description are
in the market, for which no fair or reasonable oiler
will be rejected. The person with sufficient means at
his disposal, the owner of a few thousands as well as
the rnillionoaire, has the whole country before him
where to choose. East, west, north, and south, in
Leinster, Connaught, Ulster, and Munster, there are
properties for sale suited to every purse ; to that of
the man whose only desire is to farm his own land
and kill his own mutton, as to him who wishes to be-
come one of the territorial aristocracy, the owner of
wide-spread domains, with a commanding voice in
local politics. Large estates may be purchased with-
out division or diminution, commanding the fealty of
numerous and respectable tenantries, or divided into
eligible lots. No temptation is wanting. There is
no necessity for investigating the title, that is
placed on the firmest foundation. It is guaranteed
by the Imperial Parliament, and all retrospective de-
ductions are wholly dispensed with. The purchaser
may enter into possession without expense, delay, or
risk ; with the certainty that he is not only protected
from the consequences of any claim that may be pre.
ferred at any future period, but that he may dispose
of his property, or make it available as security,
without difficulty or expense. He will receive a
new root to his title above all suspicion. And yet, not-
withstanding all these unquestionable and, we may
add, unparalleled advantages, the golden opportunity
is let slip, and Englishmen, who have hitherto exhi-
bited the greatest spirit and enterprise,
,who have
sought profitable investments in every quarter of the
globe, are disregarding the road to fortune that lies
at their very thresholds.

Since the termination of the vacation the same
apathy has existed which was so painfully conspicuous
before the recess. The Commissioners, however, ap-
pear determined to exhibit greater firmness, and not
to sanction the " alarming sacrifices" that seem to be
looked for. Sales have, therefore, been more fre-
quently adjourned than heretofore, at the same time
that, whenever a fair price has been offered, it has
been readily accepted. There will apparently no
longer be any danger of "confiscation," of lands be-
ing transferred from the former inheritors without a
fair equivalent to themselves or their creditors. And
speculators must make up their minds to bid something
approximating to the actual value of the lots, and not
delude themselves with the idea that they will obtain
really valuable property at something so immeasur-
ably below its real value as to make it appear more
like the bidding of a receiver of stolen goods to pro-
fessional plunderers, who would jump at any price, than
of a fair dealer, who mild openly enjoy his newly-
acquired rights, and maintain them against the world
without danger of disturbance.
Last week there was a friendly competition be-
tween the old and new tribunals, between the Courts
of Chancery and of the Commissioners for the Sale of
Encumbered Estates. Two magnificent properties,
both situated in the favoured and favourite province
of Ulster, were submitted to public competition on
the Inns' Quay.] A portion of the Blessington
estate was set up under the able direction of Master
LITTON. It anugt be borne in mind that this property
was to be sold under a special Act of Parliament, so
that with respect to title it was similarly circum-
stanced as the estates disposed of under the Commis-
sion on the first day. There was a manifest shyness
on the part of bidders. For the first lot a sum barely
equivalent to 15 years' purchase was offered. Master
LITTON, however, showed that he was not to be easily
caught. The sale was adjourned; and the next lot
was disposed of for more than 19 years' purchase ; and
on the following day, eleven other lots, producing

LONDON, TUESDAY EVENING, NOVEMBER 12, 1850.