148 REPORT — 1867. 



This does not make a provision by wliicli all persons may test the accuracy of 

 their linear measures, and it leaves "the weights and the measures of capacity out of 

 the question. 



After further insisting on the necessity for additional pro\-isions for the use of 

 the Metiic System, he says, that if the neAvly appointed Standard Commissioners 

 " will pursue' the task, which they hare well begun, in an enlightened, patriotic, 

 and generous spirit, striving to carry out the recommendations of the Committee 

 of the House of Commons, and thus to insh-uct the people in the principles of the 

 svstem, and gradually to introduce it into the various departments of Government, 

 —if they persevere in this course, it will be foimd that the change will be gladly 

 and thankfully accepted from any Administration which shall have the wisdom and 

 the happiness to introduce it." 



The author says that the Committee of the House of Commons " studied the 

 subject under every important aspect, and after a long, laborious, and most intelli- 

 gent inquiry, decided unanimously to recommend the introduction of the Metric 

 System in the Post-office, in levying the Custom duties, in Government contracts, 

 ill the examinations for the Civil Service, in all schools receiving gi-ants of public 

 money, and in all statistical documents ; and they foresaw that, by adopting these 

 prelirninary measures, and by instructing the people in its principles and practice, 

 the Government would prepare for its universal acceptance. Although the Govern- 

 ment has not yet taken action in this direction, yet the system has been constantly 

 making progress by the action of the people themselves." 



The author then shows that England is lamentably behind other countries in 

 promoting this great reform, which must, nevertheless, proceed even in this 

 country. 



"It "is," says he, "my sincere desire that the recently appointed Standard Com- 

 missioners may be the honoured instruments of introducing and expediting this 

 great change. " My reason is, that I do not think the Government could have made 

 a better appointment." He mentions their names and qualifications, and concludes 

 by expressing his opinion that they were chosen on account of their past services, 

 their eminence as men of science, and their official and social distinction. He trusts 

 that they would not decline the honom-able labour, to which the present proposal 

 would invite them, and hopes that the British Association for the Advancement 

 of Science and the International Decimal Association would continue their assis- 

 tance, and that this popular agency would combine with that of a more official 

 character to accomplish the scheme recommended by the Committee of the House 

 of Commons. 



Notes on Seal- and Whale-FisJdngs as prosecuted hy the North-Sea Fleet, 

 Jutilinf/ from Dundee. By J.^mes Yeamax. 



This paper was devoted to the description of an important branch of industry pro- 

 secuted at Dundee, to provide a necessary ingredient to render jute applicable or 

 workable into its varied appliances. 



"Whale fishing has been prosecuted in Britain since the beginning of the sixteenth 

 century. Acts of the Legislature were passed for its encouragement, and bounties 

 were paid by the Government to the adventurers, both on the tonnage of the ships 

 and for the tons of oil and bone landed in British ports. During the reign of James 

 YI. of Scotland and of England Acts were passed by the Imperial Parliament to 

 encourage the trade. Its seamen were exempt from impressment for naval service, 

 and bomities on the produce were granted. From the year 1733 to the end of 1785 

 these bounties amounted for England to £-1,064,000, "and for Scotland £202,000; 

 the officially declared value of the whale-fisheries imported into England in the 

 forty-one years included between 1760 and 1800 being £2,144,387. 



Fish-oit was at that time applied to various purposes, but the chief object was oil 

 for illumination. 



The discovery of coal-gas had the effect of lessening the demand for fish-oil, and 

 consequently of the nmnber of ships employed in the North-Sea fisheries ; and al- 

 though never wholly abandoned, the trade dwindled for many j-ears, and only re- 

 vived when the use of jute, a fibre manipulated mider the action of fish-oil, created 

 a new era in the manufacture and production of many useful and ornamental fabrics. 



