ALTHOUGH it is not in our power, from want of space, in the present Number of the Life-boat Journal, or, indeed, in any one Number, to notice adequately this truly great "International Exhibition," the intimate connection of the fishermen of the country with the Life-boat service, is alone sufficient to call for a short pre- fatory notice of it. This duty is rendered the more agreeable from a firm conviction that we can with perfect truthfulness speak in high terms, both of the objects for which it has been organized, and the way in which they have been carried out.

It is almost a truism to say that our coast boatmen occupy, to say the least, as warm a corner in the national heart as does any other section of the community, yet, by the nation at large, how little is known of that portion of itself which is employed in culling from the sea the apparently inexhaustible treasures of fish for our convenience and comfort; or of the hard- ships, dangers, and temptations of the fisherman's calling, all of which tend to form that character for hardihood and bravery for which, as a class, they are renowned.

If the great and much-lamented founder of International Exhibitions, H.E.H. the late PKINOE CONSORT, were still alive, with AUGUST 1, 1883.] THE LIFE-BOAT.

183 what proud gratification would he have cause to look upon the numerous offspring of his noble and far-sighted proposition to hold the first " Great World's Fair " in 1851.

Although that parent exhibition was general, and not confined to any special industry, and there have since been many others of a similar kind, there have also sprung from it special ones, confined to particular industries. Fishing and fish- eries were but sparingly represented until the year 1865, when Boulogne opened the series, to be soon followed by their countrymen at Arcachon and Havre. We next find one being held at the Hague, and soon afterwards another at Naples; then there seems to have been a lull until 1880, when the " International Fisheries Exhibition" was held at Berlin. This eclipsed all previous ones, but has in its turn been put in the shade by its descend- ant which we are considering.

With a better example of-" the fitness of things " than is common, it fell to the lot of Norfolk, with its many important fisheries, to take the first step in-awaken- ing the public interest of this country on this matter, by hojding its first Fishery Exhibition.

The example thus set was soon followed by Scotland, where the " Highland and Agricultural Society," true to its prin- ciples of doing all it could to promote the industries of the country, having seen the benefits to be derived from the Norfolk Exhibition, promoted and organized one in Edinburgh the succeeding year. As was naturally to be expected, these two have been entirely eclipsed by the Inter- national Fisheries Exhibition at South Kensington.

The classification of the exhibits and the general and special prizes offered by the " Committee of the Exhibition," and private benefactors, is most comprehen- sive. It includes every engine necessary or useful to the fisherman in the pursuit of his calling, as well as his clothes, food, medicine chest, houses to live in, con- tracts of partnership, insurance of lives, boats, gear, &c., and benefit societies.

We next come to the disposal of the fish when caught—"preparation, preser- vation, and utilization offish, and all forms of fish life," included in class 5. Class 4 includes fish culture in all its branches, including " diseases," " sewerage," from the fishes' point of view, by purifying streams from chemical or other matters injurious to fish life, and " acclimatisation of fish." Class 5 comprises the natural history of all water life (if we may coin the word) of both river and sea.

Class 6 comprises the history and literature of fishing, fishery laws, and fish commerce.

Class 7 consists of collections within the scope of any of the foregoing classes.

As a supplement to this very compre- hensive list, comes the " List of Subjects for Prize Essays," which includes six prizes of 100?. each, one of 501., and six- teen of 25?., for different essays on almost every branch of this most interesting and important subject.

How well the invitation to take part in the Exhibition has been responded to, is shown by the fact of special Commis- sioners having been appointed for twenty- eight different foreign countries, besides twelve for our colonies and dependencies.

In addition to the vast fund of infor- mation, and knowledge of how others work, and what they work with, brought within our reach by a careful and intelli- gent study of the thousands of exhibits displayed throughout the building, the Committee have taken most important and material securities for success, in establishing conferences on various cognate subjects, and publishing a series of shilling hand-books by some of the most eminent authorities of the day. We can only express a hope that efforts will be made to obtain and publish the views and opinions of some of the leading men amongst the practical fishermen them- . selves, the subject in question being one in many parts of which the result of prac- tical experience, intelligently expressed, will be of far greater value, and lead to sounder conclusions, than any amount of theoretical but higher cultivated opinion.

The effect of such an Exhibition will probably not be immediately perceived, but we may certainly look forward with confidence to its being of very material benefit to our fishermen, fishing interests, and even the fish themselves; for if it teaches us how to catch, them better, it will also teach us how to protect their infancy, and prevent wanton and useless destruction..