Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1858-05-14
Mlisfell aneons.

STEAM ON THE CHESAPEAKE AND Ouro
CANAL. The writer of this has for some
time past heard great deal about a
steam propeller which was said to be ac-
complishing wonders on the Chesapeake
and Ohio Canal. As he happened to DO
in Georgetown when this boat last arriv-
ed from Cumberland and was struck by
its appearance, he obtained some particu-
lars respecting its advantages and sue
cess, which are subjoihed, 1t bears the
name Of its inventor, worthy towns
man, Capt. j. J.. Cathcart II has al
ready made in regular trips upon the
canal no less than ,740 miles, and pass
ed the narrow locks thereon 730 times
without once striking, besides padding
up and down the Potomac river dis
lance of nearly 500 miles. On question:
ing Capt. Gatheart in regard to the ad-
vantages which he claims for his pet ves-
sci, he replied as follows: "Wil cause
an improvement in morals, as it EMPLOYS
no mules for the men to curse; the saw
ing in tow-lines furnishes headlight and
oil for engine; shoeing mules and repairs
of harness will cover breakages and re-
pairs of engine; fuel costs one dollar per
day running time, or one. third of mule
feed no expense for fuel when canal
breaks or boat in port; time gained over
mule travel at least ono-fourth no tow
ing upon arrival at tide; no mule travel
to damage tow-path; every advantage in
slack-water and ponds by cutting across
same number of hands as mule-boat and
no greater expense; no fever and ague
whilst running; room for machinery less
than that for mules; difference of weight
three tons; engine will outlast three sets
of mules, and will load and unload its
own cargo, pumps out the bilge-watcr,
and consequently causes less manual la
Dor; does not damage the banks by
washing, but on the contrary removes
all bars on the canal; and expense Of
wintering engine t,oelre and half cents
for tallow." Capt. Cathcart is also pre-
pared to demonstrate that he can bring
coal from Cumberland at cost of 45
cents per ton less than any boat drawn
by mules. If all these claims can be
substantiated, and we have no doubt they
can, it would really seem as if revolu-
ton in canal navigation was about to take
place. Nat. Intel.
TIE HERRINe. lIerrings, as far as
numbers are concerned, exceed all the
rest of the fish in tho ocean put together.
They penetrate to the Polar sea, inacces-
slble on many accounts to voracious fish,
and there breed and multiply beyond tho
computation Of man. II was supposed
by Pennant that if two behring's were
allowed to live and increase in their cha
rac.eristic style, and the lives of their
offspring spared for twenty-five years,
their bodies would exceed the bulk Of the
world ten times An army Of them,
equaling in extent Italy, France, and
Spain, leave the regions Of the Pole in
the spring. Early in June they sur
round the Shetland Islands; next Scot
land, Ireland, and England; they then
cross the Atlantic to the coast Of Georgia;
from thence they move east, and line tho
entire sea coast Of North America, more
than three thousand miles in extent, and
what is most remarkable, they always
keep the same distance from the sun, and
never rest, and are always compelled to
remain near the surface Of the sea, as
their air-bladder is too fully developed,
and their fins too broad to permit them
to sink deep. We can scarcely conceal
our amazement at the number of these
fish, when we take into consideration the
thousands Of millions that are yearly Ia
ken throughout the world by fishermen,
the tens of thousands Of millions destroy
cd by whales and other marine monsters
that follow them night and day through
out all their migrations; yet, notwith-
standing the untiring activity Of these
numerous destructive causes. every ensu-
ing year finds the abundance undiminish-
ed and perfectly inezhaustible, defying
/ the combined arts of men and the ire
pressiblc voracity Of all the ocean tribes.
THE MARRnGE CEREMONY. To see
two rational beings, in the glow Of youth
and hope, which invests life with all the
halo Of happiness, appear together, and
openly acknowledge their preference for
each other voluntarily enter into league
of perpetual friendship, and call heaven
and earth to witness the sincerity Of tho
solemn vows to think Of the endearing
connection, the important consequences,
the final separation, the smile that kin
dies TO ccstacy at their union, must at
length be quenched in the tears Of mourn
ing but while life continues they arc
to participate in the same joys, TO endure
the ike sorrows, TO rejoice and weep in
unison. This is the most interesting
spectacle that social life exhibits.
MAKISG LirTLE or ms WIFE. The
Paris correspondent Of the Glasgow
Herald states that Russian nobleman,
now in Paris, wears his wife on his fin
ger. His much loved spouse having
died lately, the grieying husband be-
sought celebrated chemist 10 reduce
her remains 10 concentrated essence.
and a few days afterwards was presented
with a stone about half an inch in d.
ameter, aud Of n grccnish tint, being
the residual product Of his defunct lady
Set in ring, the count thus carries on his
hand a neyor.dyiug memory Of his lost
lovo in tho shane Of a precious stone --.