264 Dr. Mac Cullpch on the 



profitable manufacture, the more so as the sugar imported from 

 the British West India colonies pays a duty of very near 3d. per 

 Ib. But it is probable the root would be much more expensive 

 in working, from its greater bulk and less productive of sugar, 

 from the juices not being so well matured by the sun as it is in 

 France. I believe the experiment has not been tried. 



In Germany and other countries of Europe, the duties on 

 imported sugar are so small, that it is probable this manufacture 

 will not be attempted. 



ART. . On the Use of Lights or Fires in the Fisheries. 

 By J. Mac Culloch, M.D., F.R.S.E. 8fc. 



Sir, 



I have taken' occasion, in a work on the Highlands to which 



I need not here refer more particularly, to remark on the singular 

 neglect of our fishermen respecting the use of fires or lights ; a 

 practice as ancient as it is common throughout the world, among 

 savage as well as among civilzed nations. Some circumstances 

 connected with the fisheries of Cornwall may render it useful at 

 present to recall this subject to the public mind. For the state- 

 ments, however, I have no authority but the popular one ; the 

 representations of individuals, and the paragraphs in the western 

 newspapers ; yet I suppose that there can be no great hazard in 

 admitting this as sufficient evidence. The credit, or otherwise, 

 will not, at least, rest with me. 



In the salmon fishery, and chiefly in that which is contraband, 

 the use as well as the utility of lights is familiar ; a.nd in the 

 work to which I have alluded, I have explained the principle on 

 which it is the object of pursuit to fishes. It is by the light 

 elicited from their own bodies that they become marks to thejr 

 enemies during the darkness, whether of the night or of the 

 obscure depths of the sea ; and thus light becomes, essentially, 

 their leading motive of conduct. 



Yet familiar as this fact is as to the salmon, I do not believe 

 that there is a single instance in Britain where this expedient 



