

KIDD’S OWN JOURNAL. 
miles square, it may be calculated that there will 
be raised from its surface, in one day, more than 
64,000 tons weight of water (64,821), by means 
of solar radiation. This is at least equal to the 
work of ten steam-engines ef 200 horse-power 
each, for the same space of time; presuming that 
the above weight is only raised to an average 
height of between 300 and 400 feet. To balance 
that weight, a hill of earth would be required 30 
feet high, 100 feet wide, and 600 feet in length. 
In making the calculations which have led to 
these statements, it has been assumed that, in a 
hot day of summer, a quarter of an inch of water 
would be evaporated from an exposed surface of a 
lake, in twelve hours; and this from an area of 
two miles square would amount to 2,323,200 
cubic feet, which at sixty-two and a half pounds 
|| * per cubic foot, is equal to 65,821 tons. Now, a 
quarter of an inch is not a maximum amount of 
evaporation; it is but one half of that which, 
according to good authorities, has been actually 
removed by evaporation, and under a temperature, 
of from 73° to 75° degrees Fahrenheit. Instead 
of 64,000 tons, facts would justify us in stating 
that 130,000 tons might be raised in one day, 
from a surface of water not exceeding two miles 
square.—Resecca W., Southampton. 

Turbot.—The turbot is known in our markets 
as one of the largest of our flat fishes; and is 
justly prized both for the delicacy of its flavor and 
its nutritious qualities. It is found in large shoals ; 
and although not capricious in regard to its 
haunts, it appears, in frequenting certain localities, 
to be influenced mainly by the presence of the 
small fish on which it preys. Turbot are caught 
in considerable quantities on the coasts of Durham 
and Yorkshire, with lines, in a similar manner to 
cod; but the most extensive turbot-fisheries are 
those of the Dutch, which commence about the 
end of March, and are pursued during the months 
of April and May, and continued till the middle 
of August, when the fishing is dropped for the 
year. The produce is principally transported in 
boats to the London market. From some 
peculiarity in its organisation, the muscular 
fibre of the turbot is not so much deteriorated 
during the growth of the milt and roe as in other 
fish ; and if it could be caught, would be longer 
in season. But, like most of the finny tribe, it is 
only to be procured when frequenting the coasts 
which it has selected as its favorite spawning- 
ground. The turbot spawns in August, after 
which it becomes feeble and is out of season ; but 
it speedily recovers its strength, and retreats into 
deep water.—VioLeEr, Worcester. 
Fissex Lunatic Asylum.—tThis splendid pile 
of building, which covers eight acres, contains 
seyen wards and two infirmaries on one side, and 
six wards and one infirmary on the other, with 
300 dormitories and 150 single rooms. The chapel 
is most tastefully fitted up in the cathedral style, 
with 300 sittings. The tank, which is supplied 
from an adjoining reservoir, contains 10,000 
gallons of water, and is so arranged as to keep 
up a constant supply of hot and cold water for 
the baths. The asylum cost £65,000;; but would 
have cost £12,000 more, through the increased 
value of labor and material, had it not been 
200 

commenced ten years ago. The support of each 
inmate is estimated at £145, while in the other 
asylums it averages from £150 to £200.—J. 
Anperson, Chelmsford. 
Quackery in England—A. Foul Blot upon the 
National Character—Of all countries in the 
world, England is that in which quacks and 
quackery flourish most. According to the census 
returns, there are nearly 30,000 persons practising 
one or more departments of medicine and surgery 
without qualications.—Civis. 
[The world is “ mad,’’—suicidically mad ; there- 
fore is it that the villanous quacks prey upon 
them. The quacks and undertakers “do the 
thing ’’ nicely. ‘They appear to act quite in 
concert,—and very evidently “understand ” one 
another. | 

Chloroform a Motive Power.—The inhabitants 
of our port have just witnessed some experiments 
te move machinery by the vapor of chloroform. 
The experiment was made by the steamer Galilee, 
of 120-horse power, under the inspection of the 
Minister of Marine during his last visit. After 
making several turns in the harbour, she went out 
into the roadstead, at the rate of not less than 
nine knots an hour. The success of the experi- 
ment was complete.—A Lorent Correspondent of 
the Lancet. 

Railway “ Acts.”—It appears from a return 
ordered by the House of Commons, at the instance 
of Mr. Hume, of the several railway companies 
who obtained powers from Parliament, by acts 
passed since 1844, to make lines of railway, and 
who have either not made the same, or have not 
carried the same fully into effect—that the agere- 
gate length of railway authorised to be made by 
them was 6,238 miles; the estimate of capital to 
eomplete the same £105,663,905, or at the rate of 
£16,939 per mile; the length of line open for traffic, 
1,793; leaving 4,445 miles not made. The return 
is dated the 7th of July, 1853, and includes 150 
companies, of which eighty-eight are stated as new 
companies, including twenty in connexion with 
existing or old companies. The Great Northern 
Railway Company is represented as having power 
to make 349 miles of railway, of which 2364 
miles are completed, leaving 1124 miles not 
made; the Great Western, as having had power 
to make 303 miles, of which only 593 miles 
are completed, leaving 2432 miles not made; the 
Lancashire and Yorkshire but 142 miles not 
made; the London and North Western authorised 
to make 1572 miles, of which 574 ore completed, 
leaving 1004 miles not made; the London and 
South Western 114 miles authorised, but not 
made; the London and Brighton 184 miles 
authorised, but not made; the Manchester, 
Sheffield, and Lincolnshire, 1003 miles authorised, 
of which 328 miles are open, and 678 miles not 
made; the Midland, 241 miles authorised, 433 
open, and 1974 not made; the South Wales, 217 
miles authorised, and 124 open, leaving 93 miles 
not made; the York and North Midland, 97 miles 
authorised, and 362 open, leaving 604 miles not 
made ; the York, Newcastle, and Berwick, 195 
miles autborised, and 107 completed, leaving 
88 not made. Since the return was ordered, 


