IT would probably savour of exaggeration to assert that this Exhibition is entitled to the first place in the long roll of similar undertakings, of which the Exhibition of 1851 was the grand beginning; but history will give it a high place as an un- qualified success—whether as regarding the attractiveness of the things brought together—-the manner in which they are displayed—or the organization which enables everyone to see so well and so completely free from inconvenience, every article of the interesting collection brought together. Upwards of two and a quarter millions of people have gone there; and though, of course, those people who are always "bored," have been bored there as much as anywhere else, the masses are delighted with all they see; the place is popular in the best sense of the term; and the enquiry, " Have you been to the Fisheries?" has this year completely put the weather upon one side.

Few indeed have been so lacking in energy and interest as not to have been at any rate once, and very few have con- tented themselves with one visit.

The administrative capacity of the Exe- cutive has been tested and proved—in no way more so than in the first necessary step of getting their visitors there. In this they have been most ably assisted and seconded by the railway companies; and their assistance is not the less acceptable because, in helping to smooth the path of the sightseer, they have probably helped their shareholders also.

At every railway station, tickets for the Fisheries were so advertised, that "all who ran might read." Once there, the scene is so novel, and the effect so beautiful, that it is difficult in a small space like the present to do any justice to it.

The Exhibition of Fish and Fishing- tackle sounds prosaic, but the arrange- ments take away a great deal of the common-place; and standing at the end, commanding a long vista from the steps under the glass arch, nets dyed in dif- ferent colours, festooned along, serve the double purpose of veiling the glare and enhancing the beauty of .the scene.

Under this centre corridor, l oats, gear and ropes come in regular order. Carved figure-heads from distant lands stand in friendly rivalry with the smartest boats of our highest civilization. The Queen's State-barge, dating from the 1st James, and blazing with red and gold, is to be seen in one place; and the coble in which Grace Darling saved the lives of the shipwrecked sailors, and made her name famous for all time, is not far off. There is a picture of her—a young, nice-looking girl, with a fine complexion and a modest expression—and round her boat gathers a crowd of earnest admirers.

It is wonderful, though the most useful and plain articles are very visible, how LIFE-BOAT JOURNAL.—VOL. XII.—No. 130.

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little they seem to destroy the effect of the charm given by the display of the more beautiful things. In this, England does not carry off the palm; some of the foreign courts very far surpassing her in the taste with which their national con- tributions are arranged to catch the public eye.

There is much to admire in our courts, and a great deal that appeals pleasantly to the memory of those many who lore rod-fishing, whose eyes mast rejoice to sea old friends again. "John Seott," " Silver Doctor/' " John Fergusson," "March Brown," "Professor," and "Part- ridge Buff/' with hundreds of others, bring vividly to mind pleasant and happy days, when rod in hand, a favourite pool was neared, and a fresh-run fish, or a wily trout, was encountered and captured.

The oldest article exhibited in our courts is, we beliere, the red-aad-gold State-barge already mentioned, built in James the First's reign, and lent by Her Majesty.

Innumerable models of fishing-boats and vessels from all parts of the world claim attention; they are very interesting and instructive, and range from the beautiful fishing-schooners of the United States, with their yacht-like form and white cotton canvas sails, to the skin coracles still in use on the West Coast of Ireland; the modern canoe and square- ended fishing-punts of the Thames, with their luxurious fittings, cushions and awnings, &e., stand near enough to chal- lenge comparison with the regular fishing- boats, looking like work, and reminding one of the dangers they have to face as well as the many contrivances for lessening the risk, that are exhibited. Nothing is more striking than the immense difference in form, hull, rigging, &c., where the object of all is the same, i.e., to provide the greatest practicable security for life and property in pursuing a perilous calling.

Doubtless some of these differences are due to local requirements for harbouring and hauling up the boats, but there is a good deal that can only be accounted for by believing the form, &c., to be the outcome of long-continued custom and local prejudices—and it is one of the im- portant offices of this Exhibition to break down these prejudices, which so often fatally prevent desirable improvements.

The Exhibition does not content itself with teaching how to catch fish; it also teaches how to cook it; and going upon the right principle of " beginning at the beginning," there are also models of the various hatching systems. In short, from the spawn of fish, to the latest methods civilization has discovered of making use of them—their flesh, their bones —nothing has been forgotten. The various methods of capture—the nets, and the mode of escape for smaller fishes from the meshes of the voracious trawl-net—everything deserves study.

As to the cooking, we are obliged to take it on trust; but the success of the Bd. fish-dinners has far exceeded the most sanguine expectatioas: hungry crowds flock in, and hungry crowds wait with dogged determination outside. The fish- market has not supplied cheap fish, the prices asked being at times higher than is now the rule in other markets.

Of course there are innumerable displays of cured fish, freezing ia a refrigerator, salting, pickling, smoking, ad infinitum— the most patent fact being, that however perfect the method of preservation may be, the look of these delicacies in their uncooked condition is not lovely to the eye, or appetizing to gaze upon. Even a turtle, when converted into a mummy, is not suggestive of tempting soup—though of course this is a mere sentimental feeling, and does not affect its excellence as a matter of fact.

Waterproofing, applied to every portion of clothing in use among fishermen, shines out in lustrous folds; and wearing apparel of many kinds is to be seen—one depart- ment being devoted to a certain article worn by ladies, and which, till somebody thought of the whales, puzzled some of the visitors a good deal as to its being the right thing in the right place.

No one doubts the advantage of bringing before the eyes of those who have no other NOVEMBER 1, 1883.] THE LIFE-BOAT.

199 opportunity of seeing them, the enormous variety of fish existing in the world.

Eeading and pictures awaken a certain interest, but nothing equal to that created by tangible proofs. There is but a short step between the interest aroused by personal acquaintance with fish and the various manners of catching it, and the hardy tribe of men who brave the dangers of the deep, spending their lives in a perilous calling, and in bringing home the spoils of the sea.

In the United States Court there are some splendid specimens—giants of the finny tribe. Sun-fish are to be seen in one place, and huge whales in another.

Overhead hangs a cuttle-fish, which enables one to realise the truth of Victor Hugo's description of a struggle with a monster of this kind in his ' Toilers of the Sea.' Passing to the Colonial Exhibits, how much there is to see! The exquisite shells of the Bahamas and the tropics; the quaint carvings and delicate tracery on huge conch shells. Each court has hun- dreds of objects of beauty and interest.

Whether attracted by the coral of Naples, or the fascinating and graceful specimens of marine flora elsewhere, no one can fail to come away wiser and better for the opportunity of seeing nature, as nature exists in other climes.

There are some cases of birds, zoophytes and seaweeds which deserve special men- tion, because they are no mere classified collection, the dried bones of Science as it were, bereft of all charm. The zoophytes are arranged with loving care, evidently, and are grouped so as to reproduce their habitats as well as their individuality.

Looking at them, one is carried back in thought to still pools left by the sea on some rocky coast; once again we feel the thrill of discovery, and the fear of destroying by our eagerness some rare specimen ; once more the shout of triumph comes to our ears, as we succeed in de- taching a delicate beauty without injury.

The specimens of the " Sea-horses " shown are unusually large, and Mrs. Gardner, who exhibits these beautiful things, is sincerely to be congratulated. There are other cases almost equally good, and some stuffed fishes wonderfully fresh and life- like.

One great merit in this Exhibition is the possibility of seeing a great deal without over-fatigue. There are plenty of seats, and except as regards the candidates for the fish-dinners, no overcrowding.

From one end to another the organiza- tion is admirable. There are very few policemen, and they are unobtrusive; and a more orderly number of people could not seen. More than two and a quarter millions have been there, and numbers do not dimi- nish. Of course some go because, putting the fish on one side, it is a very attractive place to go to. There is good music, and there is much besides. The gardens are always pretty; the weather has been fine ; and the admission is cheap. But at night it is a world of enchantment, owing to the electric light. Each court gains in beauty, and the mysterious, clear, and soft light gives the commonest objects a charm. In the gardens the scene is fairy-like. The water-tanks, the flowers, and the moving crowd make up a whole hitherto unsur- passed in England. The scene is more that of a gay foreign town; and the question arises, why should rot some- thing like this be within the reach of our townspeople always ? If this Exhibition does nothing more, it must at any rate awaken a larger sympathy with fishermen—a sympathy which it may be hoped will not die away, but which will give fresh impetus to the friendly and cordial feeling that has already been shown towards those who do their utmost to try to lessen the risk of loss of life on the coast.

It may be considered strange that this sketch has not alluded to the various means shown for saving life at sea by our own Life-boats or other means. This reticence is necessary, because the decision of the judges has not been given. Pos- sibly, in another article and at a future date, this question, which is of paramount importance, will be discussed at length..