—In my last communication (Vol. v., p. 235.), in consecutive lines, when was printed where, and second was printed record. This is not wholly the printer's fault: in the common current hands, n and re are much alike; and n and r, s and r, are like enough to cause mistake. I have more than once got as far as a second proof, containing what might, if it had been printed, have been interpreted as a reflection on the dimensions of the clergy, which was far from my intention; namely, allusion to the area of a circular rector, in which the first r should have been s. What I want to make a note on, is this: no current hand is taught at schools: the so-called small hand is nothing but the larger hand written smaller. If any one would publish some specimens of current hand, in which all the letters are perfectly distinguishable from each other, he would do good service. And the (?) might go the length of a woodcut (which imitates writing better than copper): for no persons write so badly as writers. The task should not be undertaken by a writing-master: for there are few who will go through thick and thin in their calligraphy. What is wanted is a good skewer-hand, in which there are none of those upstrokes and downstrokes which, in former days, used to subject boys to certain other upstrokes and downstrokes, of which it can only be said that the former were more bearable than the latter.

M.

Queries.

DUTCH MANUFACTORIES OF PORCELAIN.

What manufactories of porcelain were established in Holland?

When, by whom, and at what places were they established, and when did they cease to exist?

What marks were used to indicate the different manufactories, and had the manufactures any distinctive character?

The mark M. O. L. is frequently found on Dutch porcelain, and occasionally the word Amstel; what is the meaning of these marks, and when were they employed?

A stork is also found as a mark on Dutch porcelain, which is said to have been made at the Hague. Is this correct? and if so, what is the history of the manufactory?

Was any porcelain made at Arnheim? and if so, what was the distinguishing mark?

O. M.

[We beg to recommend these Queries to the especial attention of our Dutch contemporary DE NAVORSCHER; and we have little doubt that some of the learned contributors to that Journal will be able to throw light upon what is at present a very obscure portion in any history of manufactures which we possess in this country.—ED.]

SALMON FISHERIES.

Grievous complaints are now making of the scarcity of salmon, and consequently of the depressed state of the salmon fisheries, both in Scotland and Ireland. As the statistics of the produce of the principal rivers of those countries for some years past are known, it would be curious to contrast their returns in the present century with any accounts which may exist of their produce in former times.

For example, the Earl of Strafford wrote, in 1638, that the fishery at Derry produced to the crown that year 240 tons of salmon, which sold at 15l. per ton. In 1845 the seven years average of the Foyle (Derry) was 140 tons, and the price ranged at about 100l. per ton. Pennant states that as much as 320 tons were taken in the Bann in 1760; and Stanihurst, writing about the year 1584, declares that the fishermen of Lough Neagh, and of the "noble northerne river, the Banne, complain more often for bursting of their nets with the over great take of fish, than for anie want," so that the Irish grievance of that day lay in the very glut of the commodity.

The famous "salmon-leap" at Ballyshannon, on the Erne, was formerly very productive. It belonged to the O'Donels, Lords of Tyrconnel. Sir George Carew, in a MS. pedigree of that family, observes that

"O'Donell is the best lorde of fishe in Ireland, and exchangeth fishe allwayes with foreign merchants for wyne, by which his call in other countryes the kinge of fishe."

In Roman Catholic times our national salmon fisheries were of much value, for they supplied an article of food which was necessary for fast days; there are, accordingly, many ancient acts of parliament in the statute books for the preservation of the salmon, and still more in the Scotch statutes, in one of which, indeed, a jubilee was ordained for the benefit of the finny tribe, by making it penal to take any salmon for the space of three years. Not only did private and religious houses rely upon a supply of salted fish for fast days, and for the winter's consumption, but armies at that time could not be marched or subsisted without them. There is in Rymer an order of Edward II. to provide 3000 dried salmon for this very purpose.

All our mouths water at hearing of "kippered salmon," especially at breakfast-time; but it seems from old Izaak Walton's use of the word that the origin of the delicacy is not the very best, for he uses the word as expressive of a "sprat," or spawned cock-salmon, out of season, and it is verily to be believed that the dainty is produced by preserving the fish when in a state that it could not be eaten if fresh.

Travellers in the colder latitudes of the new and old world, agree in representing the rivers of those countries as literally swarming with noble salmon. The increase of man, and the advances of civilisation, have led to the decrease of salmon in the British Islands, and this fish will probably, in a century or so more, rank among other exterminated animals, as the bustard, &c.

Any of your readers would oblige me by reference to authorities in which statements may be found as to the ancient productiveness of the salmon fisheries of Great Britain and Ireland; in fact, to any information or curious details on the subject.

H. T. H.

Wexford.

THOMAS CRAWFURD.

Can any of your readers inform me when Mr. Thomas Crawfurd was the Professor of Philosophy in the University of Edinburgh? In a Scotch Peerage, by Mr. George Crawfurd, published in 1716, there is a Latin epigram by him on the armorial bearings of the Crawfurds of Kilbirny in Ayrshire, one of whom was created Viscount Garnock by Queen Anne, in the second year of her reign. The description of the armorial bearings is as follows in the same peerage, under the head Crawfurd, Viscount of Garnock—

"Quarterly 1st and 4th gules, a fess ermine. 2nd and 3rd azure, a Cheveron betwixt three Cross Patées Or, supported by two Grayhounds. Crest, an ermine Argent. Motto, 'Sine labe nota.'"

The author then adds,—

"A learned gentleman of this name[2] paraphrased this coat of arms in these fine elegiacs—