of 3,877 cwts. and 150 barrels in the quantity cured, and of 9,597 cwts. and 25 barrels in the quantity exported. The total quantity of cod and ling caught, but not cured, amounts to 63,539 cwts., being an increase over the preceding year of 5,497 cwts.; and, when added to the quantity cured, makes the produce of the cod and ling fisheries for 1855 to be 177,100 cwts. and 6,316 barrels, being an increase over the preceding year of 9,373 cwts. and 150 barrels. In 1855, 11,747 boats, manned by 41,602 fishermen and boys, were employed in the shore curing department of the fisheries, and the total number of persons engaged in the fisheries was 94,155, being an increase over the preceding year of 856 boats, of 1,243 fishermen, and of 26,321 persons in the total number of persons employed. The number of square yards of netting employed in 1855 in the fisheries amounted to 80,031,507, being an increase upon the preceding year of 2,820,936 square yards. The number of yards of lines amounted to 34,023,034, being an increase of 3,503,370 yards. And the total value of boats, nets, and lines, amounted to 618,484, being an increase in value of 31,0647. The exports of herrings to the Continent were distributed as follows:14,147 barrels to Königsberg, 59,204 barrels to Dantzic, 160,572 barrels to Stettin, 26,774 barrels to Hamburg, 60,377 barrels to Harburg, 6,754 barrels to Bremen, 7,955 barrels to Rotterdam for the Rhine, and 8,244 to other continental ports; total exported, 344,029 barrels. The report is dated, Board of Fisheries, Edinburgh, 2nd June, 1856, and signed by the Commissioners. No. CVII.-BOARD OF FISHERIES (SCOTLAND). Return to an Order of the House of Commons, dated 26th Feb., 1856, for Copy of the Report or Reports addressed to the Lords Commissioners of Her Majesty's Treasury in or since the year 1848, by Mr. J. G. Shaw Lefevre, on the Subject of the Fishery Board in Scotland (Mr. George Duff), and Copies of any Treasury Minute or Minutes since 1854, relative to the Board of Fisheries in Scotland, and of all Correspondence, since 1854, with the Lords of the Treasury relative to the same Subject. (Mr. Edward Ellice.) (43.) Mr. J. G. SHAW LEFEVRE, having been deputed by the Treasury to investigate the expenditure conducted under the superintendence of the Fishery Board at Edinburgh, in order to ascertain how far each part of it is productive of public advantage; and whether any, and, if any, what alterations are called for by the change of circumstances since the present system was first established, reported on the 24th Jan. 1849, as follows:First, with regard to the branding of herrings, in so far as the home trade is concerned, there is no adequate grounds for supporting it; but, as respects the foreign trade, which is sufficiently large to be an object of the highest importance to Scotland, the branding system forms so essential a part of its arrangements, that its abandonment might cause much loss and inconvenience. It is suggested, however, to charge a small fee or duty upon the branding of each barrel, so as to throw a portion of the expense of the establishment upon those who immediately benefit by it. Mr. Lefevre suggested that the system of punching and branding cod may be discontinued, subject to the necessary precautions. On the 17th April, 1849, the Board of Fisheries at Edinburgh reported on the suggestions of Mr. Lefevre, consenting to discontinue the branding of the cod and ling fisheries; and making observations on the expense of the establishment, and also on the naval superintendence exercised by the Board. Mr. J. G. Lefevre, in another letter dated 9th July, 1849, made some suggestions as to the possibility of diminishing the establishment of fishery officers, recommending that the commissioners of fisheries should apply the whole of the annual sum of 3,000l. to piers and harbours, instead of applying, as heretofore, 500l. (part thereof) in the repair of fishermen's boats. Accordingly, on the 4th December, 1849, a Treasury minute was made, sanctioning the several measures recommended by the commissioners, and approved by Mr. Lefevre. On the 18th December, 1855, a Treasury minute was made, in consequence of observations made in the House of Commons at the time of taking the votes in supply, in which, after recapitulating the historical facts connected with the constitution of the Board, which causes on the whole an annual expense of 14,000l. a year, the Treasury proposed to abolish the system of branding herrings for exportation, and in consequence abolish the establishment. In answer to this minute, the Board of Fisheries made a statement, dated 10th January, 1856, adducing reasons why such a measure in their opinion would prove most injurious to the fisheries of Scotland, and to the whole of the fishing trade and fishermen engaged therein. The capital engaged in the trade is not less than 2,730,000l. In boats, netting, lines, &c., alone, the value of the capital employed is estimated at above 580,000l., the property, and in many cases the only property of the poor fishermen, and the fisheries, while engaging more than 10,000 boats, and about 38,000 men, in the actual occupation of fishing, give direct employment altogether to upwards of 65,000 persons, who may be held as intimately associated with the maritime concerns of the country. They showed the comparative progress of the fishery from 1848 to 1855, the quantity branded being 151,179 barrels in 1840, and 280,270 barrels in 1855; and the quantity cured, 503,729 barrels in 1840, and 705,209 barrels in 1855, and explained the principal duties performed by the Board of Fisheries, and the benefits which have been derived by the country from the fisheries being under their management. No. CVIII-FISHERY HARBOURS (IRELAND AND SCOTLAND). Return to an Order of the House of Commons, dated 14th April, 1856, for Return of all Sums of Money advanced on Public Account since January, 1846, for building, adding to, or otherwise improving and maintaining Fishery Harbours in Ireland; and similar Returns relative to Scotland. (Mr. Edward Ellice.) (185.) THE sums paid for maintaining fishery harbours in Ireland from 1846 to 14th April, 1856, was 72,200l., viz., 1846, nil; 1847, 10,000l.; 1848, 21,500; 1849, 15,500l.; 1850, 16,500l.; 1851, 3,7007.; 1852, nil; 1853, to 1855, 1,000l. each year; 1856, to 14th April, 2,000l. For fishery harbours in Scotland, the sum advanced was 2,500l. in 1846, 1847, and 1848; 5,500l. in 1849 and 1850; and 3,000l. from 1851 to 1855 inclusive; or 33,500l. from 1846 to 1855 inclusive. No. CIX.-FISHERY BOARD (SCOTLAND). Return to an Order of the House of Commons, dated 9th June, 1856, for Return in detail of the several Sums included in Vote No. 8 Civil Contingencies, relative to the Fishery Board in Scotland, viz., to the Commander of "Princess Royal" Cutter, 200l.; to the Commander of Her Majesty's Steam Vessel "Jackal," 100l.; to Marine Department, 1,800l. (Sir George Brooke Pechell.) (290.) BESIDES the 100l. and 2007. named as salaries to the commanders of the Jackal and Princess Royal, 700l. were paid for wages to mate, petty officers, and crew of cutter, 700l. for victualling, piloting, and incidental expenses, 300l. for repairs, rigging, and store, and 100l. for expense of detached hired boats crews. No. CX.-HORSES AND CARRIAGES. Return to an Order of the House of Commons, dated 5th June, 1856, for Return of the Number of Horses and Carriages paying Taxes in each County in England, for 1854. THE total number of carriages with four wheels paying taxes was 65,497; of carriages with two wheels, 127,383; of horses of all sizes, 432,746; the total amount of assessment, 544,795l.; less composition duty for horses and carriages, 37,458.; total, 582,253l. In Middlesex, there were 6,424 carriages with four wheels, 2,577 carriages with two wheels, and 23,880 horses, paying 35,130l. In York, there were 4,459 carriages with four wheels, 11,157 with two wheels, and 40,473 horses, paying 46,682. In Lancaster, 3,156 carriages with four wheels, 6,035 with two wheels, and 26,871 horses, paying 30,216., &c. No. CXI.-PUBLIC INCOME AND EXPENDITURE. Return to an Order of the Hon. the House of Commons, dated 3rd Feb., 1857, for An Account of the Gross Public Income of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland in the year ended the 30th day of September, 1856, and of the actual Issues or Payments within the same Period, exclusive of the Sums applied to the Redemption of Funded or paying off Unfunded Debt, and the Advances and Repayments for Local Works, &c. (Mr. Hayter.) (1.) An Account of the Balances of the Public Money remaining in the Exchequer on the 30th day of September, 1855; the Amount of Money raised by the Additions to the Funded or Unfunded Debt in the year ended the 30th day of September, 1856; the Money applied towards the Redemption of the Funded or paying off Unfunded Debt; the total Amount of Advances and Repayments on account of Local Works, &c., with the Difference accruing thereon, and the Balances in the Exchequer on the 30th day of September, 1856. BALANCES in the EXCHEQUER on the 30th September 1855 MONEY raised in the year ended 30th September 1856; FUNDED DEBT: Money paid into the Exche- C. 5 Act EXCHEQUER BONDS: Received for 1,000,000l. of bonds, raised per Act 18 & 19 Vict. c. 130 (in part of 7,000,000l.), granted for Exchequer Bonds and Exchequer Bills EXCHEQUER BILLS: In part of grant of 17,183,000Z., per Act 18 Vict. c. 8, and dated in March 1856. In part of grant of 17,183,000l., per Act 18 Vict. c. 8, and dated in March 1856, and applied in aid of money grants. In part of grant of 7,000,000l., per Act 18 & 19 Vict. c. 130, and dated in August 1855. In part of Grant of 21,182,700, per Act 19 Vict. c. 19, and dated in June 1856. £ 46,571,206 19 10 ISSUED: To the Commissioners for the To To the Paymaster General in on the 30th September 1856 £ s. d. 233,361 16 6 11,000 0 0 21,551,100 00 2,186 8 0 729,404 0 4 16,959,411 96 7,084,743 5 6 46,571,206 19 10 |