The Sun.
London, England, 1828-03-17 00:00:00

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

SIR--I observed a few days ago a letter in the morn-
ing Chronicle, from some salmon atnateur,complaining
that the legal period for killing salmon, as proposed
by the new Bill for the better protection of that fish,
is too limited, and " the grasping Northerns" are
charged with the intention of withholding the Royal
fish from market for too long a period. It certainly
appears not a little extraordinary, that after the ex-
amination of so many witnesses before a Committee
of the House of Commons, so little really important
information should have been acquired on the sub-
ject; and that, with the usual wisdom of the Legisla-
ture,an Act should be passed for the PAOTECTION of
salmon, which allows their DESTRUCTION for a
longer period, at the most important season, than is
even now practised. Little as there is known of
the natural history of the salmon, all parties are
agreed that it instinctively pushes up the rivers in
Autumn, for the purpose of spawning; and this de-
sire of ascending the breeding streams becomes so
much stronger as Autumn advances, that the pro-
portion taken in July: and August is at least twenty
to one in any of the preceding months. Whatever
increase of time may therefore be given in the early
part of Spring, it is evident that any extension
beyond the present legal period (25th August)
must be immensely injurious to the breed of fish.
Those getting up the rivers early are sure to fall a
prey to fishermen at some period before spawning,
and their preservation is immaterial, since their
number is comparatively small. Those at a later
period have, however, a better chance of escape, and
fishing in September must be as prejudicial to our
rivers, as shooting partridges and pheasants in May
would be destructive of field sports.
In many rivers clean fish begin to run in Decem-
ber, and the earlier caught the more valuable they
are at market; whilst, as the season advances, prices
lower, and the quality becomes deteriorated. Should
any foul fish be taken early, a penalty might be In-
flicted for those killed or sold, and their value is so
small that their destruction could easily be prevented.
But even allowing that a few are thus destroyed
after spawning, of what consequence are they in
comparison with those taken at the end of the season,
then full of roe or milt, and each containing many
thousand young salmon in embryo.
If it is really wished to protect the breed of sal-
mon, let fishing commence so soon as the spawning
season shall have ended (say Ist January) ; inflict
a penalty for all spent fish or young fi•y destroyed,
but by all possible means protect the salmon towards
the end of the season, when, impelled by instinct,
they ascend our firths and rivers for the purpose of
propagating and increasing their species.
I' am, Sir, your's, lkc.
March 14, 1828. A NORTHERN.

The Portuguese Ambassador and the Mexi-
can Minister transacted business on Saturday, at the
Foreign-office, Downing •street.

Count D'AGLIE, the Sardinian Minister, had
a conference with the CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER on
Saturday at his residence in Downing-street.
The Lords of his MAJESTY'S most Honour-
able Privy Council held a 'Meeting on Saturday morning
at eleven o'clock, which was attended by the LORD PRESI-
DENT of the Council, the illAsrEtt of the ROLLS, the LORD
CHIEF BARON Of SCOTLAND, Lord BERESFORD, Mr.
ELIOT, and Mr. WILMOT Hoavox. The following
ap-
peals came before their Lordships for a bearing.—,4 FRASER
v. RosE," from Berbice; " The Law-officers v. the Militia-
officers," from Jersey ; " Dory v. GAwNE," from the
Isle of Man ; " SUTHERLAND V. PATTERSON,"fFOIII Lower
Canada. The case of the " Law-officers v. the Militia-
officera," from Jersey, was an appeal by his MAJESTY'S
Advocate-General of that Island on behalf of Colonel LE
COUTEUR against the decision of the Royal Court of Jer.
sey. The Colonel had been appointed by Sir Cow{
HAI-Jaw, the Lientenant,Governor of the island, to the
command of the let or North West Regiment of Jersey, in
the year 1824, on the death of its Colonel. The respon-
dents, who are officers in the !le.-bintent, sent in letters
tendering their resignations, and reflecting on the LIEU-
TENANT-GOVERNOR for having appointed him- The
LIEUTENANT-GOVERNOR refused to receive their resigna-
tion, and the defendants absenting thernselies from the
regimental drills, were fined by the Officers of the district.
Proceedings werethen instituted in the Royal Court to ap-
ply the =mutt of the fines to the service of the Regiment.
The Royal Court at Jersey decided in favour of the respon-
dents, and from this decision the AnvocAvit GENERAL ap-
pealed to the Lords of the Kum's most Honourable Privy
Council. Lord BERESFORD attended the Meeting of their
Lordships, in consequence of the above case coming before
them, the Noble Lord being Governor of Jersey. The
Lords continued their sitting till past five o'clock. The
Meeting was held in their Lordships' Committee-room,