The Sun.
London, England, 1845-12-26 00:00:00

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WRD UPON THE FREE IM-
NATION OF CORN, AND UPON THE
IIetISTMENT OF THE CURRENCY TO
1, A MEASURE.

°nteo n tct of opinions as to the consequences that Ortsu ow a repeal of the corn-laws, there is an excuse
114og to add another to the many opinions
:litt43;i4rlvanced upon that subject, since from their
advanced
it appears to be very much a matter of con-
'it;' though some express an exact prediction of
to follow from the free admission of the first
IlltittY of life.
Jittt ()Pinion now ventured upon that momentous
kiiiois simply this—that, probably, no injustice or
%le rwould arise by the contemplated measure to the
Ilit.l)roducer, if our currency be adjusted so as to
y,„ the altered condition of the various classes of
which may reasonably be expected to

L' 14
't, Possible, if not probable, that with a repeal of
:Itt'lyill-laws, and with our present system of currency,
NI %Id be a decline in prices of the great staple
:6.4.,itit's of this country of about 15 per cent.
it decline of prices would so materially affect every
Illti,:f.inoney, as to enrich relatively more or less some
ii: 4t the expense of others, who would, to a corre-
, irli: extent, be losers. This injustice can, h0w-
°.1(154 Conveniently, but at the•same time equitably,
Ith4t by a method of an adjustment of our currency,
St, a compliance with the popular desire of free trade
0 may be unattended with the evil apprehended.
'itg
method proposed would be to establish a paper
Nyell.lt upon a basis as suggested by an article which
Nt)tl' in the columns of The Sun of the 4th Sep-
k To lit3t, under the title of " A Word upon a Measure
etl„,tle''' Such a currency expanded in accordance to
let qestions there offered, would, it is thought, pre-
Vtwill •
t° °livulsion that many fear arise out of an expe-
k) „11"°, to all appearance, about to be tried.
611 i 4RII the balance of trade or foreign exchanges
hNtlmul adverse, our home currency would not be
‘764;:e 11.10 precious' metals, as a medium of foreign
ti'll4tiC s might be exported, but there would be no di-
)6.‘ti h4ll of the bank-note money, or the home medium
lee%4llge ; prices of the necessaries of life and other
;411,tq would, with trifling fluctuations, continue to
10)41.Ni an average of years, as they were during
re te;(4 upon which the tithe commutation was based.
°ttli, "lie for the payment of the national creditor, and
4),:tiit payment of the public expenses of the State, would
IN igere oppressively felt in its being collected than
44,1)tites were as above stated, for payments would be
::14,t1)1,1 bank-notes, or if payments should be made in
Bat °r
would be in accordance, or at the rate of, the
totito„c't bank-note value of such coin.
I,‘ till, 't Present system of currency would be inadequate
qtlitersiNets ; and it is delusive 'in principle, since
ki totite I)roraise to perform a physical impossibility—that
rr
litlin • 'lig the whole of their paper issues into gold at
,
• rate of 3/ 17s 10id. per ounce ; besides which,
th, 'Yete • • •
' of currency is ever liable to be disturbed by
lit Co'c'tit
1:13 Netions and expansions of bank paper to keep
b, tisk
,',Nktio„ et Price of gold at par • such contractions and ex-
io-44: 4ffect prices, and are' ruinously mischievous to
11'14 be sitious classes. In short, this system of currency
h,...41t11' 4 Very ricketty affitir. With abundant harvests
Cil it, Neatry at peace, it may be upheld; but it could
o.4Ppiiyall Probability, endure the shock of war. If, un-
ere ~,,•" 4 war should arise between us and France,
1 c4ioo. °11,,,_1(1, and not without reason, be a fear of in.
' ,-41118 h, we should become alarmed : a run for the pre-
ltll4 petals would ensue ; a general smash of banks
t!, br:ll°W ; and the consequences would, at such a
To , most fearful
kalt ,:eillrn to the subject of the repeal of the corn-laws.
el, ms be ,_
"0 "nest—let us be guided by the social rule of
,teiletltoothers as you would be done by." T,et our
Lme toy 0 system be adapted to the circumstances of the.
k; built ur Wants, and to cur state of civilisation ; let it
vtive soil- the solid foundation and products of our
:Pe ti;:'`ti- Under these condition, there would be a
1..014d the angry feeling now unhappily prevailing
'cl rn:llbside ; and that our agricultural, commercial,
kliitm eufacturing interests, would each advance in
be0.4.311Ad Perfect harmony.
We, 1845.

J. IL

REASONINGS ON DEEP SEA
fly former
MR. DEMPSTER.
fi 'Ay former c•maionications on the subj-ct of deep sea
:hing, suggesting the numerous advantages that might
gained to the public were those fisheries conducted
!Pon the same principle as is carried on by the English
rd Dutch, I trust have been sufficiently explanatory
g"hvinte, that the very primitive way the fisheries of
0 °nand are at present managed cause a wide vacuum
,P'24 for improvement ; an improvement that might be
thas ymade if once the two primary requisites are ma-
‘rie • namely—the MoNEY and the WILL.
~,,(18 for the WAY, that must be quite clear to all who
rffausirs the slightest degree of knowledge in nautical
fe s, or to any one else who will give the quest•on a
thw minutes' consideration, and 11. ay be thus stated—lf
A Zic•oglish and Dutch can afford to come, with large
B:,'"ag vessels, a distance of 600 miles to the coast of
ti 'otland, to prosecute the fisheries, and find it a lucra-
h2 trade, at the same time several thousand individuals
kticil thereby employed, anti the inhabitants in Holland
to England can get fish from our coast in the very best
eb,!'"aeitilan, both cured and fresh, whilst the inhabitants of
country, who are within a few miles of myriads of
hp description of fish, natural to our northern lati-
VT; often find occasion to com;ltin both of scarcity,
pi!" Price, unsoundmss of fish, &c., it is clear that the
present :system of fishing in Scotland must be anomalous.
fiti When the Dutch and English do well after coming
keh a distance, we ought to do better with the advan •
7 of the fishing ground so close at had.
the here must be a WAY; but what is necessary to fill up
ki", blank—is MONEY to procure efficient vessels, &c.,
1 the WILL to work and use them advantageously.
psin a,to aware many persons are of opinion that the
torsfiPal and greatest difficulty to be overcome is the
t'isluring proper experienced men for such undertakings,
halt)'. 'e fishermen may be averse to reform their ancient
%pus, and will say, "If there were decked vessels pro-
will for us to fish in the deep sea, what would we do
iiourlve littlethe effect upon
ne boats as at present constructed are only adapted
tsinProsecuting the herring fishing, at a time when they
thtite inshore to spawn, and are invariably foul. With
. tit,e,d vessels we may catch and cure herrings, as the
N'u .do, in deep wate”, during the months of June and
4al' when they are then in their prime, plump, rich, and
m'Y condition.
ht.," Present class of fishing boats in Scotland are not
14expensive when new. Joint-stock companies, de-
-14:" to improve the fisheries, might find it an advan-
co indemnify the fishermen for their boats, in pro
104,,11 to their value. The fishermen might then be
leoco'red to embark their capital in tee enterprise, and
botia3e shareholders of such companies. The boats
th„3 not be altogether valueless to the companies, as
h might be disposed of in various ways for other
the -1; t- west and north-west of Scotland, the Dencale-
ite„4 Sea, and from Cape Wrath, through the Great
Ist'aittle Minch, the extensive shoal of herrings that
thAt tally visit our shores, has never been known to miss
leti4ract on their passage southward. With decked
litelos,there to capture the herrings before they entered
INdeas (which they do to spawn).herrings of the very
tti4 scription might be taken in immense
.quantities.
'4 14. rlown that those herrings are far superior to such
is caught on the east coast. The Dutch fishing
Itithes never double Cape Wrath to the westward, in
:Itt„,quence of the intricate navigation towards it, and
li'' from Holland. The west coast deep sea herring
kikieg being completed by decked vessels belonging to
Nateilintry, could then proceed through•the Caledonian
'tholi to the east coast, and pursue the deep sea white
h.°l4.
k,mi, -11 g the latter part of spring, summer, and au-
IN) tne cod fish invariably keep out in deep water. the
le 04r;bealth ones swimmincs near the surface. They
C beipalYly caught on board of smacks with short
Licilnes. Throughout the winter, when the weather
i and frosty, the cod migrates from the deep into
„rll,lld arms of the sea. They then swim low, and
Ilttheihtnd lines are used on board of smacks for catch-
ikth 'b.
~tie trawl net, which is used to fish for soles and other
notiL Ilion of flat fish, is worked much upon the same
„IsePtlP as an oyster dredge; excepting that the trawl
`the 13 constructed so as to be trailed over the surface
`top,,tround, and not to enter it, as the oyster dredge
,l'pePleted to do.
kallit•`°llB to the time the early herrings were expected.
. *est.coast, a number of the vessels could receive
Nki their nets, and proceed through the Caledonian
r,t4 whilst some would remain on the east-coast, en-
it in the white fishing, &c. ; so that, with decked
l 6 to carry on the fisheries, they might be profitably
e;ccl all the year through ; and now that railways
tag dtntersect the country at every important point,
e'lbt need be entertained as to finding a market
Nt, ~,; Wherever they can be imported in a fresh whole-
N'tklition, there will always be purchasers.
ill'sheries of Scotland are one of her greatest natu-
rictions, from which the nation might derive con-
k4itko benefit as an article of trade. Yet, how unac-
t,4l strange, those treasures of the deep (which,
45.1.6!13 are valued according to their sterling worth),
ti;,7l,li4Pal and most valuable of all, viz., the deep sea
104141(1 the deep sea cod, are only properly fished
44,eke inhabitants of other nations, whilst at home
6. ntre's bountiful gift.
ihd.tile* and improve the fisheries of Scotland must
htl'idli „° 11t of atriotic compaies or associations. No
qairee enterprise will evern
effect the change that is
let; . If joint-stock companies or associations do
hxtlitio" It, the fisheries of Scotland may remai for
N a o,s they have already been, neglected ; an
pre-
-1141j4 and uncertain branch of trade to those who en-
lib them, which chiefly arises from the want of effi •
It •eatels 'an as to enable the fishermen to prosecute
N No„. . .... ...
Lo_ haeg_in all weathers. . -
4 beginning towards improvement, some in
ksloces to toe fishermen, by the way of indemnifying
1 r their boats, might perhaps not be found out of
etas' if they are allowed to keep them in their own
tkttti3n, some will continue to abide by their old, an-
Ml
ii , Primitive, obtuse customs the longest days of
civilised
customs at are almost obsolete in every
l'ilised country but this and Ireland.