The Sun.
London, England, 1868-01-04 00:00:00

temporary absence a gang of daring young thieves
surrounded her shop, and one of them entered and
took a cushion of bacon off a butter tub, ran out of
the shop and gave it to another boy, and the whole
gang scampered away in opposite directions.
The alarm was given by an honest boy named
Thomas James Bennett, and two police-constables
on duty opposite the Commercial Gas Works, pur-
sued the gang. Only one was cAptured. Yester-
day the prisoners were arrested, and the bacon was
discovered in the apartment of Mrs. Quarrel], i❑
Loudon-street. She admitted that she purchased
the bacon for 2s. 6d.

Mr. Stoddart said that Mrs. Qiarrell was a re-
spectable woman, who had incautiously bought the
bacon of one of the boys. It was dirty when
brought to her, and she did not think it was of
much value. She was not aware it was stolen.

Mr. Paget—The bacon is quite clean now. It is
worth 95., and you admit you bought it for 2s. Gd.
It is a most serious offence.

Mrs. Quarrell—l scraped the bacon of ter I bought
it. That makes it look clean.

Mr. Paget said he should remand the prisoners
until the 9th instant, when the boy Sullivan would
appear. He hoped the whole gang of young thieves
would be captured.

Mr. Stoddart said the poor woman, who had a
baby in her arms, and eight other children, re-
gretted exceedingly what she had done. He hoped
bail would be taken.

Mr. Paget—l will not take any bail; other people
have babies and children, and I must protect them.
It is such urchins as these who fill our reformatory
schools and convict prisons, live upon the blood and
tears of others, and foster crime. She will go to
prison.

THE OYSIER FISHINGS IN THE FIRM

OP FIRTH.

The Law Committee have given in a report
prepared by Mr. Marwick, under a remit from the
Edinburgh Town Council, to consider and report
as to an application to the Board of Trade for a
grant of the oyster-beds in the Frith of Forth be-
longing to the Crown, and lying contiguous to
those belonging to the city. In the report was the
following statement :—" It is apprehended the
Magistrates and Council would have no difficulty
in satisfying the Board that a grant to the city of
the neutral ground would enable them to regulate
the fishery in such a way as materially to increase
the supply of oysters, and to benefit the public. It
will be for the Council to consider whether any ap-
plication that they may make for a grant of the
neutral ground should not be preferred on the
footing of the Crown receiving a rent or royalty
according to the profits actually made, or the quan-
tity of oysters purchased or sold by the promoters,
or those by whom the fishery might be conducted."
The Lord Provost said that the oyster fisheries in
the Frith of Forth had been spoliatecl for many
years, and it was their bounden duty to adopt any
measure that would have the effect of protecting.
them.

Mr. R. Wilson said that there was a new com-
pany applying for powers to take the whole fishings
out of the hands of the Council, including the
neutral grounds. He read a letter on the subject
by Mr. Jameson, fishmonger, Edinburgh, of which
the following are extracts :—" Previous to the years
1837 and 1838, the price I paid for the best oysters
was fourpence and sixpence per 100. At that time
the Town Council let the oyster scalps to an Eng-
lish company, who brought down a fleet of twenty
to thirty large smacks, each working four or more
dredges. These vessels were kept constantly em-
ployed for at least one season lifting brood and
oysters, and shipping off one vessel after another as
fast as they could be loaded, for which I believe
the town never got a penny; since which time, oysters
have every year got scarcer and higher in price, until
now I pay three shillings and sixpence for oysters not
equal to those I formerly got at fourpence per hun-
dred." Mr. Jameson thinks the ring at present.
used as the gauge is too small, and says :—" The
plan I would propose is—have a ring of two inches
and a half in breadth (inside measurement), allow
the fishermen to dredge as many oysters as they
please that will not pass through that ring, compel
them to throw overboard, on any part of the city's
scalps they consider most suitable, all the oysters
that will pass through that ring."
Baillie Skinner said that the council sent their
officer to Newhaven iu 1865 to make inquiry into
this subject ; and he now held in his hand a return
showing that in one month oysters to the value of
no less than £1,431 Gs. Bd. were taken away from
the Frith of Forth, and sent to London and other
places. He thought it was high time that the Town
Council were taking steps to look a little better after
the oysters. The produce from
a single parent
oyster was immense, it having been calculated .at
no less than from 800,000 to 8,000,000.
The report, Mr. Jameson's letter, and the speci-
mens of oysters were remitted to the committee.—
Land and Water.