Star.
London, England, 1819-12-20 00:00:00

.1 -- \

DOMESTIanSIIERIEI
TO THE EDAM THE STAR. -•
is a reproach upon this Nation, that so
little has hitherto been effected in the improvement
of our Domestic Fisheries. The subject, it is true,.
has been often before the Public ; Committe have
,'
been appointed, and solemn incluiries made, but still
nothing of consequence has been undertaken—no
good has resulted. Addled sittings have produced
nothing but barren Reports ; and, with the exception
of a few experiments, badly contrived, and misera-
bly executed, matters, with respect to these Fisheries,
remain pretty much as they were.
It is not necessary that I should repeat to you all
that has been said in defence of the superior genius
of the Dutch, nor is it my intention to trouble you
with a recapitulation of the nonsense which has been
urged, to prove that they understand the thing bet-
ter than we do; but I 'shall merely contend, for my
countrymen, that it would be doing them a manifest
injustice, and a positive outrage upon common sense,
to suppose their genius, either in building a buss, Or
salting a herring, to be in any degree behind the
Dutch. No, Sir, it has not been from any want of
knowledge in the art of 'taking or curing the fish,
that we have failed in making the Domestic Fisheries
an object of national importance; but it is to the in•
sufficiency of funds, and to the vexatious operation
of Customs and Excise duties and regulations, that
we may justly attribute our want of success. And
thus it happens, that while our neighbours ate en-
riching themselves at our very doors—with one of
the most certain sources of wealth in the world with-
in our graspwith an abundant supply of the most
nutritious food—a mine of wealth in our possession.—
we permit the Dutch to make us believe that we are
mere novices, and to filch from us this noble means
of national aggrandizement!
My sole object in bringing this subject before the
Public, is with the vit• v of directing the general at-
tention to its importance ; and I shall, therefore, now
briefly state what, in my mind, should be done to
establish a great National Fighery ; confining my
plan to mere outline, and leaving this to be filled up
hereafter, as circumstances may require. I would
then propose, •
Ist, That a Meeting should be called at the Son.
don Tavern,. for the purpose of-Liking the business
into consideration. • " _ _

2dly, That hoOks shisuld. lie opened for the pur-
pose of raising the stink' .of- two millions, by sub-
scription. - .- ' • ° -
Sdly, That a foetiticittfor a Charter, to incorporate
the subscriberi,:bi' presented to Parliament, in con-
,sideration for 'which, the Company would engage to
supply'•a certain number of seamen by drafts, and
Without bounty, for his Majesty's naval service.
-* 4thlt, That the Company should endeavour net
only to-obtain a total repeal of the salt duty, as far as
regards the Fisheries, but also of every son. of im-
- post on all articles used therein. The Company being
in no wise taxed, would not logk to Government for
payment of any bounty. •
:Supposing all this arranged, I would next propose,
that the number of Fishery Establishments under the
controul of this Company should be six, viz.—two in
England, two in Scotland. and two in Ireland. Thus,
in England, one station to be near Sidmouth, in De-
vonshire, and -to have two branches, one of which
to tend westward, taking in all the coast of England
and Wales, as far as Haverfordwest ; the boats of
the other branch to have an easterly direction limn
the same point, and to extend as far as Margate.—
These two branches would be conducted by, and
form only one Establishment. The other English
Establishment I would fix on the southern shore of
the mouth of the Humber; one branch of which (for
this Establishment should also have two divisions) to
take a northern line of fishing, in the German Ocean,
as far as Berwick, which would be its northern limit;
while the boats of the other branch, stretching south-
' ward, would take in all the coast, to the mouth of
the Thames.

.

In Scotland, there would be two Establishments
also,- each having two branches-One-Establishment
I. would place somewhere near Nairn, on the. Murray
Firth ; one branch of which to take its fishing course
round Kinnaird's Head, and along -the coast as fart
Isouth as Berwick, which will.form .its southern limit;
the other branch would navigate the coast of Stither-,
land and Caithness, and passing through the Pent-
land Firth, proceed as far as Cape Wrath, which
would be its western limit t the Orkneys would come
also Within the scope of this btanch, The other Scotch
station I wotild'place on-the west coast, somewhere
about Oban, opposite the Isle of Mull ; one division
of which sliould include the Hebrides, and the islands
and coast of Scotland northward,, as fax
.its the he-
fore-mentioned Cape Wrath, in Suthsrlandshire,
which would 'be its eastern lintit; the other,divisica
ranging along the islands 'alai coast, taking in that
part of the coast of Ireland which lies betweep the
Giant's Causeway and. Donaghadee, and also the
Solway Firth, as far as Annan. .This comPriscs*
whole, coast of England and Scotland, excepting so
'much of the coast of 'England as lies between. St.
David's Head and the southern shore of the SOlway
Firth, which I have purposely not included, being
'desirous, in the narrow seas, of Feventing, as. much
as possible, all interference setvixt the boats of the
respective stations, it being my intention that this
part of the coast of 'England should be attached to
the Irish fishing stations.
In Ireland, I would propose to haie also two sta-
tions; one of which to he in the neighbourhood of
castrebar, on the west coast; one division of which,
taking along The coast nOithWardl and afterwards
eastward, as far as Donaghadee, %heather taking a
southerly direCtion; and round as far as Cape Clear,
'which would be its eastern limit. The other,,station
I Would • place in or near Wexford Haien ; one branch
of which to fish in a south-% estern direction, -as far
rifest as Cape Clear, the other branch running along
the coast, northward, de far as Donaghadee, 'and
taking in the whole orthe opposite coast of "Eng-
land, -lying betwixt' St. David's Head and the south
shore of the Solway Firth, and this takes in the en-
tire coast of the United Kingdom: I have said no-
thing about the number or tonnage of the boats to be
employed, or the number of men to navigate them ;
'these are points which the Company would have to
determine. The deep would rdquite a different equip-
mint from the shoat water fishing:. I should,
ever, imagine, 'that
.the largest vessel should not be
more than fifty tons, and the greatest complement of

`hands need not exceed seven, say five men and two.
ys. it might be well to have an understood at-
genient, that ill men employed' in these Fklieries,
ould, after three years service be liable- to be
drafted-for.the service of his Majesty's Navy; and
boys, in like manner, after five years, understanding -
With Government that such drafts should not exceed
a certain limit. 1 shall, howeVer, for the present, go
no further into the subject, but rather leave to others
to fill ue the present outline; trusting that'the mo-
nied men 4 .the country will not be fonmi wand's;

_ ,ry .
in spirit to set in motion a plan so likely to afford
both food and employment to the poor, and wealth
to the country at large. hoping to see this matter
taken up by abler hands, I remain, Sir,
Your very obedient and obliged servant,
London, December, 1819.

Yesterday, the Loan CU:ANCELLOR, the Vicu-
Cu A NCELLOR, and CountTuNcnoriP,- had audiences
of the PRINCE REGENT, at Carlt(4l-House.
Thefollowing interestirg Letter has been addreised
to the lidimr of the Leeds 111erctery :
" BARNSLEY, DECEMBER 15. -
[ ". SIR—In compliance with your request, I shall endeavour to
'give you as clear a view of cur present state as tim able., know • .
'fog that your steady devotion to the public good?intitles you to
' candour and truth.
" As to the arming, about which you inquire, I can only say,
that I believe it has chiefly been confined to the procuring of
long staves or poles; but I will not say that there are no pikes
in this place, though I hr.ow they have never been exercised
with, nor in any way publicly exhibited. •
' That theft has been drilling admits of no doubt, and that on
the nights mentioned by VI.. Wortley,but never either before or
since; and then the numbers were greatly exaggerated, for on
os
n.
the evening mentioned by Mr. Forbes, there were nom than
seven, those being all the. deluded enthusiasts that emit en be
mustered; but it seems Mr. Forbes'a fears multiplied tll • :by
ten. The greatest number that ever turned out for this purpose
was on the evening of this day fortnight., They exhibited in a
field directly opposite the rear of the house in which I live, at
which place I stood, and couldclearly see them fall in, anall:ear
them number themselves off: they were four squadrons, g:r. crat-
ing thirty each. At the other, or third and last drill, their num-
ber was so inconsiderable, as not to merit notice : and I can as- ..„„
sure you, Sir, that at the great muster above-mentioned, their
squadrons were almost entirely composed of inconsiderate boys,
ignorant of the consequences of such practices. .
" You wish to know what or who has impelled them to such
acts? I will tell you, in order that such conduct may not be .
imputed to the genuine Reformers of this place. It is the mis-
fortune
of Rirnsley to contain a weak-minded old mam—a would-
be politician, remarkable for nothing so much as the greedy cre-
dulity with which be swallows• every wonderful story. This..
poor fellow has been duped by a political incendiary, who visited
him peribdically, representing himself as i Delegate from—God
knowi Where ! At the instance of this Delegate, he called a -
Meeting to be held on Monday, the 15th hist. being told that
such Meetitigs were to he general. Finding the Advertisement
standing alone, he saw who was the dupe, and consequently •,,
abandoned the Meeting altogether, and now regrets all he has
done, not knowing what course to pursue. You have now a ••
key to the whole history of this tremendous Barnsley Meeting,
by the.terrors of, which Senatekstood appalled. The great body
of the Reformers of this place had no hand whatever in thja .
business, and the political incendiary spoken of above has ceased
to visit larnsley, and is no where to be found.
". Sunday evening, a party of the 4th Dragoon Guards; or t .
Royal Irish, amounting to SS in number, arrived here from .
Sheffield, and remained with us until Tuesday morning, when
they returned.' Not the least hurtle or disturbance took place
on Monday, except that we had a Bench of Magistrates sitticg -
at the head inn. On their recommendation a Public Meeting .
of the respectable Householders was called, to form an Associa-
don fOi the preservation of that Whichlas not yet been violated
—the public peace. This Meeting, which was called by Mr.
John Hopwood and Mr. Wm. Kershaw, constables, was held
in the Grammar Sgbool, m Ito o'clockohlr. Joust Horwoon in:
she Chair, when it watt resolreda• that a nightly patrole should he '
.
established to save til2 expenks OrWatch and Ward. The
Meeting was thinly attended, and some of the mote strenuous
advocates of the measure declined to be of the. Committee for ''
carrying the Resolutions into effect.
" Mr. Wortley -was rather sanguine in his predictiots in Pao: •
liament, as not a single arrest has yet taken place."
The following is a Copy of. a Paper circulated by
• the Booksellers and Printers, relating to the Banish-
ment Clause in the Libel Bill:
" The Clause, so far as it relates to Transportation, haS been
withdrawn, but as it relates to Banishment, has been retained i
to the latter punishment, however, the Booksellers and Printers
still feel insuperable objections. There is certainly a difference-
in the two punishments, but although the-one he more ignomi-
,nious and degrading thafi the other, yet that of Banishment may
have a severity of operation equal to that of Transportation in
most cases, and may, in some cases, be more severe. And while .
inevitable ruin attends either punishment, the sufferer is thereby
placed beyond the beuigrrint influehce of the British Coneritn-
•tion, and left in a situation from whence the Crown, the foun- :
tain of mercy, cannot be-supplicated; or at hest supplicated un-
der disadvantages from which the greatest criminal is free, while .
permitted to remain in this, country. These considerations, it
is presumed, are of the highest importance with regard to crimes,
like Libel, which are not specific and certain, and which, after .
convicuon may, from that circumstance; admit of many extenua.
tions nut immediately apparent. And as a principle of just ar.sl .
wise legislation has been applied in rejecting the punishment of
Transportation for the crimes mentioned in the Bill, so the
Booksellers and Printers venture to hope, that the punishment •
of Banishment, hitherto unknown (as a permanent measure) in
the jurisprudence of this country, will nut be retained. They
scarcely feel less apprehensive of the consequences of being sub-
ject to one punishment, than they were of being subject to both,
and they cannot but feel great apprehension and alarm in the
contemplation of a linensure which involves every personal and
domestic. comfort."
;the following is an Extract from a Proclamation,
dated Lisbon, 18th November t
“ The Boa:rd-elf Health, desirous to prevent those inconve-
Mendes that produce such irregularity in its daily occupations;
as also to give every dispatch to business, and facility to trade,
so much' impeded.by the non-delivery of documents relative to
she crews passengers, . and other matters respecting the cargoes.
of ships, whfeh Me required to be produed on entering the ports
.of this kinjdoin, and particularly that of. Lisbon; it is hereby
made known, that front and after the Ist day of January, 1820,
tile •Ghardail Moves will particularly•demand from all Captains,
'and Masters of Ships, on their making their report, every docu-
ment relate& to the identity of the Brew and passengers, as wall
as to the quantity and quality of their cargoes ; giving them to
understand, that the said documents must be produced within
twenty-four hours from the tipie of their reporting. In non-
compliance with which within the specified time, the ship will
not be allowed pratique from the 'Board of Health, and will be
subject to the utmost rigour of the laW; On the other band, by
conforming to the rules now promulgated, every necessary dis-
patch will be granted by the Board, and all documents restrucd
to the parties after examination,' . . .
CORN 'M
ARKET, MARK-LANE, DECEMBER 20.
The supply bf Wheat was rather large this morning from Es-
sex, but there Vrerebut few arrivals from any other port. A ft w
picked sae pies sold at„last blonday's.in ices, but all other sorts
wore offered at Es. less than on this day. week,. without being
able to effect sales at that abatement.. The Barley trade is qui• •
stagnant, and, except a few superior fine samples, is full 2s. per
andqu Oats were
quarter cheaper, and
ezoeedinglyunsaleable
heavy a
at that
aidt
idecline per .
quarterßeans,
lo
Pert,
r.
II Flour is Se. lower.
SISIITHFIET,D MARKET, DECEMBER so.
1 The supply of all kinds of prime Cattle at Blarket this mop.
lag was very great, in consequence of a great number left unsold
'last Friday. A great fall in the price has therefore taken place ;
and, if the present weather continuer., it is expected it will be
still lower. Muttan is also lower. Veal 'and Pork remains
Imuch the same. Current Prices as under
1 Beef Zs Od to As ad i Veal ...... ... 4s Od to 61 Od
Mutton
Beasts 3210—calves utiu—Siserp and Lambs lu,93o—Pigs 3461.
His-Magairr.--Nris great difference in prices from last weel.
P1ay.......“ 10s lip. se4 las I Straw —.et Ss so 41 12
Clover... 5 105 t• 6 10s Rower .OO Os to .e Os 0