The Sun.
London, England, 1850-01-09 00:00:00

FISHING BOATS (SCOTLAND).
On Saturday a blue book appeared containing the
report of Captain Washington on the loss of life and on
the damage caused to fishing boats on the east coast of
Scotland in the gale of the 19th of August, 1848. The
first portion of the report refers to local inquiries
instituted principally at Wick, Banff, Fraserburgh,
and Peterhead, and including the districts from Pent-
land Frith to Berwick. The total number of boats
lost or damaged on the coast of Scotland during
the terrible gale in question amounted to 124, their
value to 7,0111., and the number of men drowned to
100. The misery hereby entailed on the poor fishermen
was great, and the list of widows and orphans is
truly formidable. A review of the evidence ad-
duced in the course of Captain Washington's in-
quiry shows that the grand cause of the loss of
life and property, and the increased risk connected
with the fisheries, is the want of good harbours,
accessible at all times. "It is not the construc-
tion of two or more larger central harbours of refuge
that is wanted, but a general deepening and improve.
ment of all the existing rivers and harbours along the
eastern coast of Scotland." Nor would the improve-
ment of these harbours be attended with any very
considerable outlay. The want of good harbours,
however, although the primary, is not the only evil.
Minor points claim attention, the remedy for which
is in the hands of the fishers and curers them-
selves. The practice of hiring men to complete
the crew—the majority raw landsmen—is a fer-
tile source of danger and destruction ; and a second
evil is the national, and, as it would seem, ineradicable
vice of drunkenness. Drinking to excess is common
amongst fishermen, and it is directly encouraged by
the practice of making bargains with whisky. An-
other evil is the system of bounties between the curer
and the fishermen, which is unnecessary, and induces
extravagant and reckless habits in the men. Again, a
little more attention to the state of the barometer might
often be the means of saving the fishermen from much
risk, and from many an anxious and fruitless night at
sea. The last point is the build of the boats, on
which the fishers on the east coast are diametrically
opposed to their fellows on the south and west coast of
England ; the former maintaining that none but open
boats are fit for the herring fishery, and the latter as
strongly contending for decked or half-decked vessels.
Captain Washington, having taken the trouble to collect
a mass of scientific evidence, expresses a hope that the
Scottish fishermen will lay aside their foolish prejudices,
and that the Scotch builders will adopt such improve-
ments as may secure the fishers against the dreadful
dangers which they now encounter. The grand
measure of reform, after all, is the deepening and
.
improvement of the harbours on the east coast of
Scotland, and the placing of them under proper
control. The value and importance of the
Scotch fisheries is immense. The total pro-
duce of the fishing in 1848 was 999,345
barrels of herrings, value 1,000,0001. During the
same period 364,951 cwt. of cod and ling were
taken. The number of boats employed was 15,062,
and the number of fishermen 60,346, besides 97.447
persons engaged in curing the fish. The tonnage
of the vessels employed in conveying salt and
exporting herrings was 66,214, and the number of
the crews 5,097. The tonnage of the fish-boats was
125,946, and the total value of boats, nets, and lines,
1,250,078/—not (be it observed) the capital of mer-
chants or fish-curers, but the property of the poor
fishermen, who, if he loses his boat, loses his all.

LAW INTELLIGENCE.
COURT OF BANKRUPTCY, Jan. 8.
(Before Mr. Commissioner FONBLANQUB.)

IN THE BANKRUPTCY OF DAVID GEORGE FOSTER.

The bankrupt carried on au extensive business in
St. John's square, Clerkenwell ; he appeared to pass
his last examination on a balance-sheet prepared by
Mr. Hutton ; the creditors, secured and unsecured,
amount to 4,300/. ; the good debts, 4761. ; property,
1 8821. 16s. sd. ; property held by creditors, 6301.
The bankrupt having been examined by Mr. Sturgeon
on behalf of the assignees, and having satisfactorily
answered all questions put to him, was declared to be
entitled to pass.
Mr. LAWRENCE, on behalf of the bankrupt, then
applied, under the 160th section of the New Bankrupt
Act, that an allowance might be made out of the
estate for the preparation of the balance-sheet and
accounts. The reasons urged by Mr. Lawrence in
support of the application were that the books were
exceedingly well kept ; that the assets delivered up
by the bankrupt would realise an unusually large
dividend • and that the balance sheets, although
necessarily voluminous, were wholly vouched by the
books. _

Mr. Graham, the official assignee, •n being appealed
to by the Court, confirmed this statement, and further
stated that the bankrupt had been very assiduous and
attentive to the affairs of the estate.
The Learned COMMISSIONER stated that the benefit
conceded to bankrupts by this section of the statute
would be very sparingly conceded by the Court ; that
in all cases he (the Learned Commissioner) should
require that the accountant employed should be re-
spectable, and the balance-sheets honest ; and that
wherever he found an attempt had been made to give
a false colouring to the bankrupt's affairs he should
refuse the application. As, however, in this case all
the favourable circumstances had concurred, he should
direct a favourable sum to be paid to the accountant
out of the estate, the amount to be settled by the
Master, with the concurrence of the assignees.
(Before Mr. Commissioner HoLaoxD.)