The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser. — 1840-06-09 (Liverpool, Merseyside, England)

FISHING EXTRAORDIN ARY.—I t will be in the recollection of such of our readers as arc acquainted with the localities of Toxteth-park, that in the grounds belonging to Park Cottage, near the top of Mill-street, the residence of Francis Jordan, Esq., there was for many years a pretty large pond, railed in, and well stocked with fish. A portion of this ground, including the greater part of the pond, was recently sold for build' ing upon, the town in that direction being on the increase. That portion of the pond and the land which were retained by Mr. Jordan were fenced in with boards, leaving that sold accessible to the public. In the progress of building, quantities of rubbish and broken sandstone were thrown down from carts into the pond, so that it became gradually diminished in size. On Wednesday last it appeared to be only about forty feet long, and was narrowed to from twelve to fifteen feet. On the afternoon of that day some workmen and boys in the neighbourhood discovered, for the first time, that the little that remained of it was swarming with fish of various kinds, and they set to work to catch them as they best could. Much of the water in the pond bad been drained  off; but it was still too deep to admit Of wading through it. Long sticks, canes, and fishing-rods, with large hooks tied to the end, were put in requisition—also plasterers' rakes and other instruments. The success of some of the parties iu duced others to join in the sport, and the banks soon became lined, with fishers and spectators, young and old. At the bottom and sides of the pit there was a considerable depth of black silt, the accumulation of years, and the commotion made soon turned the water to an inky blackness, which probably sickened the fish, and rendered them an easier prey. A vast number of eels were hauled out, some of them about  1.1 lb. in weight. Carp, some weighing from 4to 6 lb., were also landed, amidAt the shouts and cheers of the friends of the successful anglers. The enthusiasm at length became general, and many boys, who had no rods or sticks, pulled up their trowsers, or took them off, and wading in a little way, watched every movement of the water and silt, and caught eels, dace, &c., with their hands, or shuffled them out upon the banks, amongst loads of mud. These adventurers occasionally stuck up to the knees in the black deposit, and there remained, unable to extricate themselves, and exposed to roars of laughter, till some, more good-natured than the rest, held out sticks to them, and forked them on shore. It was laughable to see these urchins take the water with clean white legs, and come out as if in Hessian or Napoleon boots, that rivalled in blackness and gloss any thing that has ever been achieved on leather by the redoubtable Day and Martin. One female caught, in the part of the pond yet enclosed, five large carp and a number of dace. A boy, with a rod and hook, took as many in the other part, and the quantity of eels secured was immense, probably not short of a hundred weight and a half. At length the shades of evening put a stop to the sport, and the successful and delighted `• mud larks" retired to their respective abodes, in full anticipation of feasting abundantly on snig pies. The finger proper for ladies to put a ring on to show they are engaged is the fourth finger of the right hand. Within the last twelve months the ores of Ireland have been sold by public ticketing for more than £160,000. Suicide, says the Madras Herald, is increasing to an amazing extent among the native community at Madras. Two cases per day are not uncommon.