Of the Penitentiary at Milbank we "A Chaplain is appointed, who performs deem it unnecessary to extract any par- the church service every Sunday, and ticulars, as our former volumes have pre-reads prayers once in the week days. sented our readers with the more re

markable circumstances,at the times they occurred; but the account of the gaol at Liverpool is in many respects so interesting that we cannot withhold it from our readers. This gaol, Mr. Roscoe informs us, has been erected about thirty years.

"Mr.Howard saw it in its progress in the year 1787, and expressed his opinion, that "with a view to security, health, reformation, and convenience, it would be one of the first borough gaols in the kingdom." "It is enclosed with a stone wall, twentyone feet high, and consists of six wings, all converging in a semicircle, towards the chapel and the governor's house.

"Of these wings, three only are at present occupied for the purposes of the borough. In these are confined prisoners for debt, sued by process in the Borough Court, persons fined under the Dock Police Acts, and such delinquents as the Borough magistrates think proper to

but especially as a nursery for seamen, is now so fully admitted that we should consider it a waste of our readers time and patience were we to enter into a particular consideration of them. The situation of the British coasts, indeed, is the

her generous and enlightened example, and had constituted a committee, and applied to the magistrates for their encouragement and support. By her assistance and advice, the assent of the magistrates was obtained; and a matron was appointed to carry into effect the direc-most advantageous for catching fish in the tions of the committee The convicts entered into the plan not only with will ingness, but with cheerfulness. They chose monitors from amongst themselves to regulate their proceedings. The inactivity and disorder incident to gaols, have been effectually banished; and the whole now presents a scene of peaceful industry, where their labours are relieved by reading select portions of scripture, or by intervals of necessary refreshment and repose."

The last section, on the discipline of a Penitentiary, contains many important suggestions whichdo not admit of abridgement. The appendix comprises numerous reports concerning the state of Penitentiaries and Penitentiary discipline in various parts of the world, which are either quoted or referred to in the preceeding part of the work: From these we could with pleasure have made ample extracts, ifourtime and space would have permitted; the accounts of the moral and religious reformation on boardseveral of the Hulks, will prove highly gratifying to every virtuous and benevolent mind.

Mr. Roscoe's name will doubtless ensure to his work an extensive circulation. The enlarged, humane, and philosophic views, whish he has taken of the various subjects treated by him, do equal honour to his head and his heart; and we trust that his suggestions will meet with that attention they so eminently deserve, in the approaching parliamentary discusssions relative to the present sanguinary complexion of our criminal laws

World. The Scottish Islands, particularly those to the north and west, lie most commodiously for carrying on the fishing trade to perfection; and the various creeks, coasts, bays, rivers, and lakes of Scotland, are replenished with the greatest abundance of the finest fish. The unfortunate monarch. Charles I, was so sensible of the advantages to be derived from fisheries, that he began the experiment, together with a company of merchants; but the civil war soon frustrated that project. Charles II. made a similar attempt; but his pressing wants caused him to withdraw his money from the concern, which soon after fell to the ground. Since the Union with Scotland, every successful attempts have been made to retrieve the fisheries; and those carried on by British Capital and industry in other parts of the world have been protected by various acts of the legislature. Deeply convinced of the great value of the fisheries both in a commercial and also in a political point of view, Mr. Phelps has offered in the volume, now under consideration, numerous important facts, all of which concur to shew the necessity of extending the British Fisheries.

The first place to which our attention is directed, is the island of Iceland; the bays and rivers of which are full of fish, and in such abundance that the natives do not fish on the outward banks, where the greatest quantities of the finest fish are to be caught; but confine themselves inferior kind of fish in small boats. The to the bays or fiords, where they catch an Icelandic Rivers, it appears, contain abundance of very fine salmon, and it is

produce as much salmon as all the rivers of England and Scotland.

A Treatise on the Importance of ex-stated that one single river in Iceland will tending the British Fisheries; containing a description of the Iceland As the trade with Iceland is now open, Fisheries, and of the Newfoundland and the British Government has granted Fishery and Colony; together with a bounty of £3 per ton on the Iceland fishery, our author recommends the esremarks and propositions for the bet-tablishment of an Iceland Fishing Comter supply of the Metropolis and the pany, under the following peculiar advantages. Interior, with cured and fresh Fish.

By S. Phelps, 8vo. 6s. Simpkin and
Marshall; London, 1818.

The importance of the Fisheries, not only as a profitable source of commerce,

"1st. The supply of fish is inexhaustible,

2d. The fishing gronnds round Iceland are at no greater distance from the shores of Scotland and Ireland than the south banks of Newfoundland are from St. John's where the fish is cured."

several voyages in a season, whereas the Dutch can only make one, and consequently cannot bring their fish to market at so cheap a rate as the Company now

"The plan of this societyshould therefore be, to catch the fish on the coasts of Iocland, and bring it to the Orkney, or other stations, to be cured; which could easily be effected, with infallible success, by salt-proposed." ing the fish on board, in bolk, as fast as it is caught and cleaned, and, when a full cargo is obtained, by proceeding to the Orkneys, or other places, as the wind may best serve, where the fish would be found in an excellent state, fit for curing dry, or for barrelling.

"Cargoes of salmon, forrelers, &c. could also be brought fresh in ice, or in pickle, to the London, Liverpool, Scotch, or Irish markets.

"In order to make the most of the seasons, some number of vessels with fishermen, should winter in Iceland, to take advantage of the early fishing season in February, and to prepare cargoes for the spring; or the trade may be carried on precisely the same as with Newfoundland, which would employ a colony of people to an immense extent, and relieve thousands of families, particularly in the north of Scotland and Ireland.

"This fishery would be the finest nursery in the world for seamen, as was proved by the Dutch, who formerly carried on a very extensive and lucrative fishing trade with

the coasts of Iceland.

"In the year 1803, eleven hundred and thirty-three Dutch vessels were fishing at one time off the bays of Faxefiord and Bredefiord; each vessel had from twelve to sixteen hands on board. Their fish was salted on board in barrels, the inconveniency and expence of which must be evident, compared with the mode now proposed. Barrels take up a great deal of room in the vessels, and lessen the cargoes, besides being expensive and cumbersome; neither will the fish be so good as if first salted in bulk, where, if it remained at least three weeks, it would be of benefit rather than injury to its quality. Besides, if by chance some fish are not properly cleaned, and the back bone not properly taken out, a single fish of this kind will spoil the flavour and quality of a whole barrel, which cannot happen by the proposed method, as they may be separated, or improved, in the second curing. It is also necessary in the process of curing fish, that it should undergo a certain degree of fermeutation and pressure.

"The advantage of running to the Orkneys, or other contiguous places, to discharge the cargoes as fast as they are procured, will enable the vessels to make

"Each vessel, of 120 to 150 tons, should be attended on the fishing banks by several smaller vessels, which should bring their fresh fish to the large vessels, when they could assist in fishing; by which means a cargo weuld very soon be completed.

five dollars per quintal more, in the MediThe Iceland salt fish is always worth

terranean markets, than the Newfoundland fish.

The Icelanders make a great quantity of their cod into stock fish, called by them torfisk, which is the fish simply dried without salt; but they also make clipfisk, or diy salt fish, of a most excellent quality.

Not long since the government of Denmark was willing to dispose of the island of Iceland, for no very considerable sum, and was about to alienate it to a Company in Norway. It is much to be lamented that the British government did not take Iceland under its protection, when it was strenuously solicited by the natives, a few years ago. This idea is also strengthened by the opinions of Mr. Hooker and Sir George Mackenzie, who have written upon the subject.

Iceland is invaluable for the protection and accommodation it would afford our Greenland trade, as well as for the trade of that island.

The Iceland bovkaly, (pronounced boukal) or shark oil, is the finest fish-oil in the world. It is colourless, and clear as water, and will not freeze in the coldest winter of our climate. It is made by cutting the fish in junks or pieces, and by throwing a large quantity together into a deep pit, where it is suffered to ferment and putrify; after which the oil exudes and purifies itself, and is seperated from the fleshy substanee by pressure only, and without heat. After a little repose, it becomes perfectly fine and clear; and it is evident, that after process of the putrid fermentation, it is not subject to change or decomposition, although it gets of a deeper colour by carriage, perhaps in dirty casks, or from a tinge of the wood.

The Icelanders eat the flesh of the hovkalv alter the oil is extracted, and they esteem it excellent food.

If cargoes of blubber were brought from Greenland to Iceland, (or I think even to

the Orkneys) the oil, no doubt, could be extracted in the same manner, which would greatly improve its quality, and the process would be much less expensive than the common method; and each vessel sent out to Greenland would, by this plan, procure two cargoes in a season, instead of one only. The livers of the cod may be treated in the same manner. The heads of cod, as well as the sounds, are of much more value than is generally imagined. The Icelanders dry the heads, and, by proper treatment, they certainly make as fine soup as the best turtle

in the world.

"The Dutch had,in the year 1803, eleven hundred and thirty-three vessels fishing at same time off the coast of Iceland, as before stated. The value of each vessel, with outfit, salt, barrels, and provisions, could not be less, upon an average, than £800, making the capital employed £906,400. One-third the tonnage of vessels, and one-third the capital and expences, would bring as much fish to the Orkneys, salted in bulk, as was brought by the Dutch to their markets. A comparative calculation of profits and advantages need not, therefore, be further entered

into.

“Five hundred vessels of 150 tons each (and the Dutch were of 120 to 150 tons burthen) would bring, in single cargoes only, 75,000 tons of fish to the Orkneys in one season; the bounty alone upon which would be £225,000. It is presumed that government may not continue this bounty, which would not be required after the first expence and establishment.

ment to more than double that number of

refused to British fishermen, and be given
again exclusively to the Dutch? Would
that be any advantage to our Newfound-
land and home fisheries?
would always have the preference at fo-
The Dutch
reign markets; the cabaliou, or bacallau
of Iceland being always preferred to the
Newfoundland fish, and it arrives at foreign
markets much sooner.

"The Dutch fishermen, who were accustomed to fish on the coasts of Iceland, always ridiculed the idea of our sending to Newfoundland to fish, when we could get better fish, in greater quantities, so much nearer home.

eries at home and abroad? By a recent "Besides, what is the extent of our fishstatement made to the House of Commons, it appeared that only 20,000 seamen were employed in the British fisheries! The Dutch employed 360,000 people altogether, at least, as is stated in a printed report: shall we then confine our numbers to 20,000, and give the remainder of the trade to the Dutch? It is not only the number of fishermen to be employed that is to be taken into consideration upon this subject, but the employment which will be given to women and children to cure and pack the fish on shore, and the incalculable numbers of persons of various descriptions to whom it will give employment, food, and comfort.

"Although the local situation of Great The number of seamen employed by Britain is the best in the world for the exthe Dutch in fishing off Iceland, was not tension of her fisheries, yet the Dutch have less, upon an average, than from twelve always excelled us as fishermen and curers, to sixteen thousand, and, in the whole of which has arisen partly from their greater their fishing trade, it is said, they em- steady industry, and partly from their suployed above 9000 vessels and 360,000 perior method; for in all things else they people, which must have given employ-have the disadvantage. It may not, thereother descriptions of persons ashore, By fore, be improper to state some of the extending the British fisheries in the way probable causes of their superior success. now proposed, with all their appendages, may not as many British vessels and British subjects find employ? This is a sub-ermen by shares of the fish caught, to inject which requires the most serious con- duce them to be diligent, and procure full sideration and investigation, together with cargoes in the shortest space of time; and the most ample encouragement and snp- the same method should always be adopted, port. The calculation, enormous as it which is the natural and primitive mode of may appear, is much within the bounds of carrying on and extending fisheries, as well probability and truth. as a saving of capital.

"It has been said that the establishment of an Iceland fishery might interfere with our Newfoundland and home fisheries.Shall, therefore, this invaluable fishery be

"1st. The Dutch always paid their fish

"2dly. Their most expert fishermen were the commodores of their fleets, both in finding the best fishing grounds and shoals

of fish, and in giving instruction how and of single individuals would be inadequate and where to lay their nets. and unavailing; and unless prompt and "3dly. The Dutch kept the same fisher-powerful means are adopted, this trade, so men employed the whole year round, in nutural and advantageous to the British different fisheries and on different stations; interest, will again fall exclusively into the for herrings are not found at the same time hands of the Dutch, or be alienated to the off the north of Iceland, the coasts of Scot- Norwegians. land, and at Yarmouth, but succeed each other. The same with other fish accord-eries are already too extensive, and allege ing to their seasons.

"It appears, also, that another great cause of the superior success and extent of their fisheries was, that they fished in large companies or fleets, and made a kind of joint stock concern of their captures. For instance, off Iceland, there would be seldom less than 1000 to 1200 vessels fishing at the same stations; each shared alike, and on their return home they had merchants ready to contract for forty or fifty cargoes together to ship for foreign markets; whereas it is difficult to find a market for a single cargo, or a purchaser who would enter upon such an enterprize.

"Some people may remark that our fish

as a proof the present distressed state of our colony and fishery at Newfoundland; but this is by no means a proof. The local disadvantages, distance, and expence of our Newfoundland fishery operate against that fishery; but the demand for fish will always exceed the supply to be obtained, if it can be brought to market at a cheap rate, and of a good quality."

Mr. Phelps has given an interesting account of the introduction of the British trade with Iceland, for which we must refer our readers to his volume. There is, however, so much weight in his observations on the impolicy of the existing duties on salt, as tending to impede the progress of the fisheries, that we are tempted to extract some of his remarks.

may

"Supposing a single vessel to be sent out to Iceland, and to return with a full cargo of fish ;---what is the owner to do with the fish when he has got it? He has no connexion in the trade; and instead of receiving the value of his cargo, and returning bly be named to impede or annoy the fish"The greatest obstacle, which can possiagain to the same employment, he must going trade, is certainly the duty on salt: for to a foreign market, where he is also a stranger, and a new trader, and where he that purpose, yet the waiting for permits though it be obtained duty free for must sell his fish at any price that is offered, and the attendance of excise officers; the consequently he is no better off abroad than danger of transport, the fear of mistakes, at home. This shows the importance of fishing companies and fishing stations, tremendous considerations, that few are and of incurring heavy penalties, are such which still admit of ramifications, that bold enough to run such risks; and numwould give occupation and support to numberless individuals of different descriptions. cured in consequence. berless cargoes of fish are not taken and What makes the value of our oyster fisheries, but being carried on by extensive companies?

"The establishment of an Iceland fishing company is the more to be recommended, as its object is not to obtain a monopoly, but to extend the British fisheries generally, and thereby give regular employment to multitudes of the lower classes of the community (particularly seamen out of employ) and also to furnish a more abundant supply of a very desirable article of food; which can only be effected by the joint exertions and support of persons of high consideration and distinction. The efforts

"By having proper fishing stations this evil might in some measure be avoided; but it is a pity there should be any impediment to an object of such national and individual importance.

"Sir Thomas Bernard seems to have entered into a full examination of this subject, and, in recommending a commutation for the salt duties, he says, "The commutation should be so calculated as not to subject the individual to more than what he is now charged under the existing salt duties: for example, if a householder's expence in salt be at present thirty shillings a-year, it will