The Sun.
London, England, 1845-12-25 00:00:00

REASONINGS ON DEEP SEA
FISHINGS.—BY MR. DEMPSTER.
fil:lY former communications on the subject of deep sea
bo nig, suggesting the numerous advantages that might
gained to the public were those fisheries conducted
9°ll the same
neon
principle as is carried on by the English
t„ Dutch I trust have been sufficiently explanatory.
Scotland are
that the very primitive way the fisheries of
l 4 en are at present managed cause a wide vacuum
,tira? for
-mprovement ; an improvement that might be
made if once the two primary rt quisites are ma-
s,fnamely--the MONEY and the WILL.
or th •-th t tbe quite clear to all who
e AI, a mus
ases
atti s the slightest degree of knowledge in nautical
few or to any one else who will give the question a
th Lainutes' consideration, and may be thus stated—lf
6:b-r,eglish and Dutch can afford to come, with large
-,ltTlig vessels, a distance of 600 miles to the coast of
0
,and, to prosecute the fisheries, and find it a lucre-
e ,r[tde, at the same time several
thousand individuals
intog thereby employed, and the inhabitants in Holland
dngland can ret fish from our coast in the very best
:tion, both cured 6 and fresh, whilst the inhabitants of
~,e°untry, who are within a few miles of myriads of
to Y description of fish, natural to our northern lati-
11'014, often find occasion to complain both of scarcity,
Pr%„l3tice, unsoundness of fish, &c., it is clear that the
•evitsrit system of fishing in Scotland must be anomalous..
stehueti the Dutch and English do well after coming
ttt. a distance we ought to do better with the advan.
vi•-h°f the fishing ground so close at had.
here must be a WAY; but what is necessary to fill up
klaank—is MONEY to procure efficient vessels, &e.,
Ihie WILL to work and use them advantageously.
kin Lin, aware many persons are of opinion that the
Proeen-r,at and greatest difficulty to be overcome is the
th-ring proper experienced men for such undertakings,
litt,t,t fishermen may be averse to reform their ancient
csre:,, and will say, "If there were decked vessels pro-
with ftir us to fish in the deep sea, what would we do
Lour own boats, &c.?" Such arguments as those
that have little effect upon the public, when it is known
rot „*"e boats as at present constructed are only adapted
Iste?seeuting the herring fishing, at a time when they
die inshore to spawn, and are invariably foul. With
btltiti vessels we may catch and cure herrings, as the
,4111q1d,0, in deep water, during the months of June and
4ettittli When they. are then in their prime, plump, rich, and
Y condition.
st Present class of fishing boats in Scotland are not
iii ,
oh_qPensive when new. Joint-stock companies, de-
tv to improve the fisheries, might find it an advan-
Pottit° indemnify the fishermen for their boats, in pro
1044%1 to their value. The fishermen might then be
hecoetti to embark their capital in the enterprise, and
Wouiale shareholders of such companies. The boats
114, not be altogether valueless to the companies, as
14P:eight be disposed of in various ways for other
Poses
•
Potti, the west and north-west of Scotland, the Dencale-
kell Sea, and from Cape Wrath, through the Great
litrijl!ettle Minch, the extensive shoal of herrings that
"".Y visit our shores, has never been known to miss
Nse trzte..
on their passage southward. With decked
thsrs there to capture the herrings before they entered
'tsteiells (which they do to spawn) herrings of the very
4t4r:SeriptiOn might be taken in immense quantities.
bIiOVVII that those herrings are far superior to such
ht4,:ie Caught on the east coast. The Dutch fishing
toit,;`B never double Cape Wrath to the westward, in
liiittttiaence of the intricate navigation towards it, and
attii:ee from Holland. The west coast deep sea herring
this g being completed by decked vessels belonging to
l'ilsal antry, could then proceed through the Caledonian
gsbi to the east coast, and pursue the deep sea white
Dngi
,
Nthilrng the latter part of spring, summer, and au-
, prop' the cod fish invariably keep out in deep water. the
!•ts;,ebealthy ones swimming near the surface. They
4taft?neipally caught on board of smacks with short
;
;Pith
Throughout the winter, when the weather
;Pith,: and frosty, the cod migrates from the deep into
and arms of the sea. They then swim low, and
44etiiti,band lines are used on board of smacks for catch•
ttiste trawl net, which is used to fish for soles and other "option of flat fish, is worked much upon the same
'Pie as an oyster dredge; excepting that the trawl
Cei is constructed so as to be trailed over the surface
'leo' ground, and not to enter it, as the oyster dredge
I.astructed to do.
114 'le, °inns to the time the early herrings were expected
boe west-coast, a number of the vessels could receive
‘ard their nets, and proceed through the Caledonian
tatme4, Whilst some would remain on the east-coast, en-
Nsj. in the white fishing, &c.; so that, with decked
104443 to carry on the fisheries, they might be profitably
its teo3:ed all the year through ; and now that railways
,Intersect the country at every important point,
Ire 6 doubt need be entertained as to finding a market
Ittal/4 ; wherever they can be imported in a fresh whole-
Theoudition, there will always be purchasers.
iunsheries of Scotland are one of her greatest natu-
tide "',unctions, from which the nation might derive con-
tott:ittnle benefit as an article of trade. Yet, how unac-
lie,ks,,,,,lY strange, those treasures of the deep (which,
7;:182 are valued according to their sterling worth),
estrilncipal and most valuable of all, viz., the deep sea
feth4g and the deep sea cod, are only proper)), fished
Nl:,the inhabitants of other nations, whilst at home
nature's bountiful gift.
tZttform and improve the fisheries of Scotland must
'adi,tiPork of patriotic companies or associations. No
9114.,a1 enterprise will ever effect the change that is
"eteA,`Li• If joint-stock companies or associations do
test geet it, the fisheries of Scotland may remain fur
CariO i
Ur
es as they have already been, neglected ; a pre-
iNge i 3 and uncertain branch of trade to those who en-
tti 'a them, which chiefly arises from the want of effi-
.se: • v essels, so as to enable the fishermen to prosecute
it calling in all weathers.
make a beginning towards improvement, some
in-
genees to the fishermen, by the way of indemnifying.
;41.vana for their boats, might perhaps not be found out of
lkser; as; if they are allowed to keep them in their own
some will continue to abide by their old, an-
ti;',Vived, primitive, obtuse customs the longest days of
otko Js
—customs that are almost obsolete in every
t Civilised country but this and Ireland.

1,:l? ORD UPON THE FREE INI-
41111TATION OF CORN, AND UPON T fIE
BtI,,enI•IISTAA LENT
MEASUR F THE CURRENCY TO OE.

U the conflict of opinions as to the consequences that
14 I°llow a repeal of the corn-laws, there is an excuse
tilP4surning to add another to the many opinions
ready advanced upon that subject, since from their
Nltt •
Ittt ariety it appears to be very much a matter of con-
ure, though some express an exact prediction of
hat is to follow from the free admission of the first
scary of life.
tZue opinion now ventured upon that momentous
.Jeot is simply this—that, probably, no injustice or
hi4ehief would arise by the contemplated measure to the
n
t,tc,,e producer, if our currency be adjusted so as to
tifY the altered condition of the various classes of
thtlu community, which may reasonably be expected to
It • i
the 8 possible, if not probable, that with a repeal of
theorn-laws and with our present system of currency,
the, •
ere
Would be a decline in prices of the great staple
C'olodities of this country of about 15 per cent.
;eh a decline of prices would so materially affect every
pities
of money, as to enrich relatively more or less some
rgrties. at the expense of others, who would, to a corre-
amding extent, be losers. This injustice can, how-
‘..)cr, be conveniently, but at the'same time equitably,
soll/ided by a method of an adjustment of our currency,
that a compliance with the popular desire of free trade

elarn may be unattended with the evil apprehended.
The method proposed would be to establish a paper
%..rtency upon a basis as suggested by an article which
DPeared in the columns of The Sun of the 4th Sep-
tetsber last, under the title of " A Word upon a Measure
Of value." Such a currency expanded in accordance to
the suggestions there offered, would, it is thought, pre-
' veet a convulsion that many fear will arise out of an expo-
tituent now, to all appearance, about to be tried.
~,,Though the balance of trade or foreign exchanges
:ILtilt be adverse, our home currency would not be
leeted. The precious metals, as a medium of foreign
:!eliange, might be exported, but there would be no di-
'inution of the bank-note money, or the home medium
of exchange ; prices of the necessaries of life and other
~
'lnuducts would, with trifling fluctuations, continue to
tinge upon an average of years, as they were during
the Period upon which the tithe commutation was based.
revenue for the payment of the national creditor, and
for the payment of the public expenses of the State, would
net be more oppressively felt in its being collected than
Iv hen prices were as above stated, for payments would be
, Bde in bank-notes, or if payments should be made in
Cl'l3+ they would be in accordance, or at the rate of, the
h.,
7.sit'ltet or bank-note value of such coin.
_slut our present system of currency would be inadequate
our wants ; and it is delusive in principle, since
bankers promise to perform a physical impossibility—that
or converting the whole of their paper issues into gold at
the Mint rate of 31. 17s. 101 d. per ounce ; besides which,
nis system of currency is ever liable to be disturbed by
iv." contractions and expansions of bank paper to keep
eiliarket price of gold at par ; such contractions and ex-
snsions affect prices, and are ruinously mischievous to
the industrious classes. In short, this system of currency
'B, at best, a very ricketty affair. With abundant harvests
and the country at peace, it may be upheld; but it could
Zat' in all probability, endure the shock of war. If, un-
aPPilY, a war should arise between us and France,
there would, and not without reason, be a fear of in.
v:si°ll. We should become alarmed a run for the pre-
cious metals would ensue ; a general smash of banks
W°llld follow ; and the consequences would, at such a
crisis, be most fearful.
To return to the subject of the repeal of the corn-laws.
Let us be honest—let us be guided by the social rule of
1)0 unto others as you would be done by." Let our
currency system be adapted to the circumstances of the
ease, to our wants, and to our state of civilisation ; let it
t
built upon the solid foundation and products of our
native soil. Under these conditions, there would be a
13! that the angry feeling now unhappily prevailing
"_°l,lld subside ; and that our agricultural, commercial,
!Is? manufacturing interests, would each advance in
waited and perfect harmony.
Dec. 24, L 645,

J. H.