The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-04-25
EDITORIAL NOTES,

The Fish Commissions investigations have re-
Gently resulted in developments which add more
than 10000 square miles TO the fishing area off
the Atlantic Coast. The commission entertained
the notion that the ocean elsewhere than on the
banks might be made greatly productive by the
use of the beam-lrawl, and recently the schooner
Mary +. Chisholm Of Gloucester, Mass. made
the first experiment with one imported ifom En-
gland. The result was remarkable catch, the
trawl-Det coming up repeatedly so overloaded
with 1nny denizeDs OF The deep that The greatest
difficulty was experienced in getting them 10 the
surface. II is estimated that $50 tons were
taken and tons were thrown veTbnard. The
beam-traw is huge net, sort OF pocket.
seventy-fve feet iu length spread apart by q
stick OF wood, which goes on runners like sled
50 that the net eau be easily hauled over the bot
tom OF The ocean and scoop In The fish that hug
the sandy or muddy ground. Vessels equipped
with the necessary steam apparatus for hosting
travis will shortly be put in commission, and 1t
is calculated that the product OF the Eastern
fisheries will be increased many fold.
Tile French Mediterranean squadron now To-
cludes The TWO new armOred battle-shps, the
HOche and The Marceau. The former has a ton
mage of 1860 with 800 horsepower and
speed of 10 knots. The latter has engines OF
II, 600 horsepower and speed of 16.4 knots.
Their heaviest armor is eighteen inches thick
at the water iue, While the turrets are protected
the most vulnerable parts by three inches The
Marceau's four big guns can penetrate wrought
iron twenIy-niDe inches thick. This battle-ship
also has seventeen medium guns and twenty lie.
vOying quick-nrng cannon. The aruameuts Of
The two vessels similar save that The four
large guns of the Hoche are OF a smaller calber
When Secretary Traey's new plan was first
preached 1t was enormously calculated that
1000 men in the Brooklyn Nayy-yard would be
affected by IL. The Secretary. however, soon al
layed their fears by declaring the place OF every
mechanic and laborer now in the yard will be
permanent so long as the Government has work
for him to do, and lie does 1t well. Foremen the
only persons to be subjected TO a competitive
amin If with from one 10 two years
experience in their present positions they
not able 10 compete with outsiders, then 1t Is
clear that mistake was made 10 their original
appointment, and in The interest OF good gov
erumeut they should be replaced by more COM
pc ent men,"
1t is generally believed that the location OF
an electric light in q bank Will have a tendency
10 discourage the operations OF burglars but The
ElektrO-T eehnische ZeItung now declares that
it provides the knight Of the jimmy with
dangerous implement. Amy safe, however
strong. II says, can be opened In half an hour by
means OF electricity. a carbon point properly
applied making The metal quite soft ana easy TO
cut Bank Presidents will consequently be COM
PEELED 10 take the necessary precautions to pre-
vent such dangerous implements being too cou-
venienlly located tor base uses.
a law recently promulgated in France effects
an important change IN The punishment of Grim
inals. When a prisoner is for tie first time con.
viced of violating the law and sentenced TO i'm.
prIsonment or fine the Court is authorized 10 sus.
pend The execution OF the penalty Good behav-
Tor for five years allows the postponed sentence
10 lapse. If, however, the cuprit commits a sec
ond offense within that period the first punish
ment will be carried out independently OF the
second sentence.