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Further Recommendations resjiecting the Use of Lights in the 



Cornish Fisheries. 

 Dear Sir, 



I attempted some time ago, and through a former 

 number of your Journal, to call the attention of the proprietors 

 of the Cornish fisheries to the probable advantages that might 

 be derived from the use of lights, as practised in so many parts 

 of the world, towards attracting the shoals of the pilchard, or 

 inducing them to come nearer to the shore than it is conceived 

 they have done for some years past. That this notice did not 

 fail of its intended effect, is at the same time a proof of the 

 influence of your Journal, and an inducement to renew the 

 same subject in this manner, rather than through the common 

 and vulgar method of a newspaper. But it proves what is of 

 much more consequence, the activity of mind of that really 

 enlightened and watchful people : since it is rare to find im- 

 provements, even when established, instead of suggested, as in 

 this case, adopted by any class of persons accustomed to a 

 routine, and since no other fishermen throughout England or 

 Scotland have thought fit to make the same experiment. 



Such conduct is an encouragement towards bringing this 

 subject once more under the public notice ; and, if I am not 

 misinformed as to the management of these trials in Cornwall, 

 to which, if rightly represented to me, their failure may pro- 

 bably be traced, a few further remarks on the same subject 

 cannot be misplaced, and may possibly lead at some future 

 time to better success. 



As I understand, (I hope the report was correct,) the method 

 alone that was adopted was to make lights on shore, hoping that 

 by this method the shoals which might possibly be swimming far 

 off might be enticed toward the land, where alone, and in very 

 shallow soundings, this, whicrf is a seine fishery, can be con- 

 ducted. If no other mode was attempted, perhaps I ought to 

 take part of the blame to myself, since the remarks made on 

 their tendency towards the Eddystone lighthouse, a tendency 

 which, as to all fish, will be found to hold almost universally 

 where lighthouses exist, might have seemed to indicate that to 

 imitate this by means of a light on] shore would have been 



