The Carmarthen Weekly Reporter

CARMARTHEN CJNDER THE SEARCHLIGHT. Ccme come, and sib you down you shall not bulge, You shall not go, till I set you up a glass, Where you may see the Inmost part of you.' —————— SHAKESPEARE. There is an Old Girls' Association in con- nection with the Intermediate School. It is a very laudable society; but it might have a. better name. No young lady likes to be called an Old Girl—even if she is one. The County Offices are still extending. The problem is now to find a proper office for the Financial Clerk to the Education Committee. The humorous part of the business is that while the County Council authorities are hunting all over the town for offices for themselves, they rent the premises which they own to the Inland Revenue authorities. • There is one point in favour of frosty wea- ther at any rate. It is really the only time when the streets of Carmarthen are clean. We have only two alternatives now—frost or jaud. The streets of the town are getting so in- tolerably dirty on account of the way in which they have been neglected that a move- ment is on foot to organise a corps of cross- ing sweepers to do the work which the Cor- poration can't or won't do. *«# Dr Bowen Jones has described Pensarn as an "abominably filthy place," and nobody affected has the courage to deny it. The "IVesterii Counties" Association seems to be actually extending its business, whilst tilings are plodding along quietly enough at t,he Co-operative Society. Whether it is due to the analysis of the position which iias appeared in these columns or not must remain a mystery; but the fact remains that the promoters of the Sanator- ium Movement seem to be becoming much more moderate than they used to be in their demands on the county rates. Six months ago they wanted zL3,000 from the three coun- ties in the ratio of the rateable values of the counties. This would mean that half the money—about £ 1,500—would come from Carmarthenshire. At the last meeting of the Society, a hope was expressed that each county would give £ 500 to the fund. Before the subject is finished, they win be glad to take anything Which the County Council is prepared to give. One of the speakers in formulating the demand said that it would not mean more than the hundredth part of a penny-rate on the count. This is begging the question like those wonderful fiscal calculations about put- ting a penny on the loaf and taking a farth- ing off the tea and sugar. The amount is not the question it is the principle of the thing which is the point. If the County Council gave zC250 to carry out the structural improvements required at the Carmarthen Infirmary, it would only amount then to the two-hundredth part of a penny rate, but that in itself would not be a good reason for granting it. The Sanatorium is only to contain 20 beds. Some of these will be reserved for paying guests. We may assume that twelve beds will be at the disposal of the Committee. According to the statements of the promoters there are hundreds if not thousands of people in the district dying annually of consump- tion. According to the admissions even of the enthusiasts, there is not the remotest chance of one consumptive in fifty ever hav- ing as much as a sight of the interior of this sanatorium. We hear a good deal about rate-aid and popular control going together in the matter of education.. Without branding ourselves as grossly inconsistent we cannot vote rate- aid to an institution which is to be controlled by the county gentry. The county swells are the Foundation Managers of this concern. The County Council—once they begin—will be committed to the support of this Insti- tution. The county folks will soon get luke- warm another fashionable fad will be dis- covered, and the County Council once having put their shoulder to the wheel will have to keep it there when the zeal of the subscribers has evaporated. Once let the public rates become responsible for an adverse balance, and the deficiency will expand with alarming rapidity. There is no pretence that the Sanatorium will be of the slightest use to the great army of sufferers. It is just as if you erected an asylum at Carmarthen to accommodate two or three lunatics, and then proceeded to hold a lottery or use local influence or patronage to decide which two or three lunatics should have the privilege of a place there. It would bo contended at once that the number of people benefitted would be so small that it would not affect the general mass of sufferers So it is in this case. "But," say the defenders when they are driven into a corner "it will be an object lesson; poor people will learn how to treat themselves at their own homes." I cannot see how a sanatorium at Alltymynydd can possibly be an object lesson to people living at \Y mtland, Ammanford, or Laugharne. People can read accounts in the papers tell- ing how things are done up at Llansawel; but it would be just as easy to read accounts in the papers about the things that are done in Switzerland. As a matter of fact Allty- inynydd is the last place in the there counties where an object lesson should be situated. From Whitland you could go to London in less time than you would take to get to Alltymynydd; from Aberystwith you could go Birmingham or Worcester in the same time that it would take you to get to the "object lesson." Distance is a matter of time and of available conveyances, not of miles. We do not all own motor-cars. The only people to whom the Sanatorium would be an object lesson would be the medi- cal visitors. The farm labourers and the weavers would never come from various parts of the district to investigate the open-air treatment of tuberculosis on the top of Llan- ybyther mountain. If they did they would not be a bit the better of it. To teach work- ing men that delicate members of their families require to consume so many pounds of beef and so many quarts of milk is like teaching them that they ought to wear over- coats lined with ermine or that they ought to drink half a bottle of Perrier Jouet before going to bed every night. It can't be done on the money. It is said that these twenty beds will accommodate more than 20 patients annu- ally, because the patients will be changed, each only staying a few months. Anything more condemnatory of the whole thing can hardly be imagined. Fancy taking in the poor sufferers and fattening them up for three j or four months, and then sending them back to their poverty and their squalid hovels ripe for the slaughter I li The defenders of the system will point to ( t -+_ people who have been cured by the sana- torium treatment. I could point to people who have been cured of rheumatism by carrying a potato in their pockets. At least they are better, and they give the credit to the potato. There are people who have been cured of consumption without sanatoria, and there are people who have gone into one of these institutions and have come out and died. Anybody who has had any experience of consumptives knows that these facts are true. One of the tricks of the sanatorium apolo- gists is to conjure with names. Sir John Williams has had something to do with it, and so .as the Royal Family, and it is some- thing perilously akin to constructive high- treason not to join in the general chorus. It would be interesting if the apologists would tell us exactly the views of these illustrations personages on the question Noblesse oblige. Great people must support a good cause. This is undobutedly a good cause; the ques- tion is whether the county ought to be rated for it any more than for any other good cause Personally I cannot imagine any institutions which have done more good in this very town than the Carmarthenshire Infirmary and the Swansea Eye Hospital. But they have not been taken up as a society fad, and the County Council has not been practically or- dered to levy a rate for their maintenance. Princess Christian is to come down to open the sanatorium, and any children who collect £ 5 will have the pleasure of being presented to her for the purpose of presenting the purses. This is the kind of thing which will appeal to the snobbish instincts of those who are striving to be somebody. £ 5 for a kind of a deputy presentation at court is not much Royalty is a venerable institution; but even Royalty is used nowadays for advertising purposes. There are at least three parties in Car- marthen in regard to the Education struggle. These are (1) Those who are in favour of the Education Act; (2) Those who are opposed to it, but believe in respecting it as long as it is the law of the land; and (3) Those who do oppose it and who are determined to thwar its objects without waiting for its repeal. » Of course there are a few humbugs who have spent all their life defaming School Boards and Liberals, and in howling for tate- aid to the priestly schools, and who now pre- tend that, they belong to class 2. They don't count. There are the people who live in such an atmosphere of hypocrisy that they actually succeed in deoeiving themselves. ••• The clergy tell us ponderously that we really must obey the law of the land until it is altered. If Ferrar had obeyed the law of the land, he would have conformed to Roman Catholicism during Mary's reign and waited for a change of Government. *«* There are certain dangers attendant on having a stall of fragile goods in Carmarthen market. Judge Bishop has decided that the takes it into the market, and the animal owner of a horse is not responsible if he kicks up its heels and wrecks a stall laden with type. It would be a good thing for people with horses not to regard this case as typical, because under different circum- stances another decision might be given. *•* One of the minor results of the Christmas holidays is the complete disorganisation of the postal deliveries. It is first noticeable when the eight o'clock delivery is made at nine o'clock, and the eleven o'clock at half pact twelve, and so on. But during the last day or two, it is impossible to recognise the delieveries at all. Letters are being taken out at all sorts of times, and the postman's lantern is to be seen flitting about like a will of the wisp at a most unearthly hour at night. And then there is a great calm; for a week or so it seems impossible to get people to reply even to business letters. The vermin who infest the streets of Car- marthen seem to be getting more outrageous in their conduct every day. The other night when the pavements were slippery a couple of these ruffians charged against an old lady who was going along the street. She was knocked down, and so badly cut about the head that she Jiad to be taken into a neigh- bouring house to have her wounds dressed. The police able to tackle the roughs of the Rhondda Va'ley; and the revivalists are able to convert them; but nobody seems able to suppress or convert the ruffians who make Carmarthen streets a terror to the helpless after dark. **» The other day a couple of local tradesmen asked leave to inspect a large boiler in a cer- tain establishment in this town. The engine- man showed them all the apparatus, and then left them for a few minutes to warm their hands, while he attended to some other work. As soon the the engineman's back was turned one shopkeeper lifted up a long poker and proceeded to stir up the fire with the view of showing his companion what he could do. Flames of a horrifying length belched forth from one of the upper doors. Both specta- tors retreated in dismay. The rash experi- menter then took the poker and pushed in a little bit of the apparatus which was pro- truding at the top. Instantly the flames burst forth at the bottom worse than ever. Suddenly the engineman heard a terrific scamper, and the two agitated tradesmen rushed to him yelling that the place was on fire. No damage was done to the boiler; but the two victims won't be the same men for some time to come. ••• On Friday, the Corporation men were strewing ashes or gravel near the market in order to provide a foothold for horses. At the same time, the steam roller was working in Lammas street, and the watering cart was sprinkling the road with water while the thermometer stood several degrees below the freezing point Municipal enterprise is a fine thine?; but this is I believe the first recorded case of the raising of a slide under official supervision. One of the methods in which the G.W.R. Co. celebrated the Christmas holidays, was by erecting a grand new clock at Carmarthen I station. ft** At a meeting in Carmarthen the other day the Rev Canon Camber Williams called one Radical "a coracle without a paddle," and called some others "cheque martyrs"—this last coming with good grace from a gentle- man who is the holder of what is practically a well-paid sinecure. And now he talks of scurrility. It sems to be pretty evident in Carmarthen that ecclesiastics are to be allowed to fight with kunckle-dusters, but that their opponents ought to wear kid gloves. ALETHEIA.

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Llacdilo Intermediate Schools ANNUAL PRIZE DISTRIBUTION. The annual prize distribution to the suc- )8sf111 students of the Llandilo Intermediate Schools took place on the 21st Dec., at the Victoria Drill Hall, Llandilo. Mr Herbert Peel, Taliaris, presided over a large and fashionable gathering, those on the platform including Col. and Mrs Mayhew, Aberglas- ney; Mrs Herbert Peel; Mr and Mrs J. W. G wynne-Hughes, Tregeyb; Mr Mervyn Peel, Danyra t; Mr W. N. Jones, Tirydail; Miss Kitching (a former mistress of the school); Mr Gwyn Jones (headmaster) and Mrs Jones; Mr T. H. Powell, solicitor; Mr W. Griffiths, J.P., Cilcennen; Mr W. Jones, Waterloo Villa; Rev W. Davies, The Walk; and the assistant masters and mistresses of the school Th3 Chairman having opened the proceed- ings with a few appropriate observations, The school choir gave a sweetly tasteful rendering of a glee. HEADMASTER'S REPORT The Headmaster delivered a lengthy re- port on the excellent work the scholars had accomplished during the year, and in the course of his remarks said that there were now 124 scholars* on the registers, which was the highest number on record. He referred to the success df the scholars at Universities, Colleges, Banks and other professions. The leading feature in conneciton with the scnools during the past year had been the establishment of a pupil teachers' centre, which was attended by 70 pupil teachers, drawn from the very wide district of Llan- dilo-fawr and Llandovery. Then again there was also the admittance to the shcool of can- didates for pupil teacherships, which was most desirable, as it better fitted them for the difficult work they were about to take up (hear, hear). Referring to the need of a manual instruction room for boys, he hoped the day was not far distant when that hope would be realised, or a gymnasium provided to develop the scholars physically. They needed physical P-s well as mental develop- ment (hear, hear). He regretted the depar- ture of Mr Davies from the teaching staff. He had been a diligent master since the foun- dation of the school, and he wished to pub- licly thank him for the help he had always readily given him (the headmaster). He also had to acknowledge the courtesy and help of the local managers, who had the interest of the schools deeply at heart. If they did not always get what money and what require- ments they wanted from the local managers they knew it was not their fault. There were always good reasons for, or circumstan- ces over which they had no control, -in the way when any request had to be denied. He was very pleased to welcome Miss Kitching there that evening, who had attended at much inconvenience to herself, in order to show her continued interest in the school. Miss Franoes Davies then gave an excellent recitation. DISTRIBUTION OF PRIZES. Mr Mayhew then distributed the certifi- cates an dprizes, amid t applause, as follows: Central Welsh Board Exaniiiiat ions: Honours Certificate: Annie Mary Evans, His tory of England and Wales, French, with Dis tinction and Conversational power; Latin, with Dis. at Senior Stage.—Dorothy Annie Evans Jones, History of England and Wales; French with distinction Latin with distinc- tion at Senior Stage.—David Jones, History of England and Wales, French, with distinc- tion and Conversational power. Senior Certificate: Elsie Davies, with dis- tinction and Conversational power in French. -Priscilla Jones, with distinction in His- tory, Arithmetic and Latin, Conversational power in French.—Margaret Jane Morgan, with Conversational power in French.—Ruth Thomas, with distinction in Arithmetic.- Elizabeth Gwen Williams, with distinction in Arithemtic.—Charles Ewart Davies. with distinction in Arithmetic.—Jacob Dillwyn Llewellyn, with distinction in Arithmetic, Mathematics and Latin, Conversational power in French.—Trevor Williams, with dis- tinction in Arithmetic and Conversational power in French. Junior Certificate: Cecilia Mary Griffiths, with distinction in Mathematics and Botany. —Evelyn Jane Jones, with distinction in Arithmetic and Conversational Power in Fre-iieh.-Mary Lewis, with distinction in Arithmetic and Welsh.—Mary Elizabeth Price.—Sidney George Davies.—Thomas Evans, with distinction in Arithmetic and Mathematics.—John Jones.—Thomas Harris Lewis, with distinction in English, Arith- inetic, Book-Keeping, and Conversational power in Pi,eneb.-David Bernard Samways, with distinction in Arithmetic, Mathematics, Latin, Welsh and Physics, Conversational power in French.-Phys Thomas.—Orlando I,N illiams. Tregeyb Scholarships, given by Mr J. W. Gwynne Hughes, Tregeyb (awarded on the results of Central Welsh Board Examination to the boy and girl obtaining the highest position in the highest form): Elizabeth Gwen Williams, and Jacob Dillwyn Llewelyn iss Kitching's Scholarship (awarded on results of Central Board examination, to a senior pupil): Annie Pritchard (Form V). Internal Scholarships (awarded to best pupns in each Form on the results of the Central Welsh Board and annual examina- tions):-For V.: Charles Ewart Davies. F--m IV. Jane Evelyn Jones; David Ber- nard Samways and Thomas Harries Lewis. £ orm III.: Winifred Morris Morgan; David Beynon Aubrey. Form II.: Franoes Evans; Philip Morgan Williams. Llandilo District Entrance Scholarships, renewed for second year: Catherine Williams and Mary Jones; Daniel Thomas Jones, Dd Rees, and Llewellyn W. Thomas. Amman Valley District Entrance Scholar- ships, renewed for second year: Marguerite Price. Mav Lewis. SCHOOL PRIZES (Awarded for General Proficiency). Form VI.: Annie Mary Evans; Dorothy Annie Evans Jones; David Jones. Form V. Priscilla Jones; Elsie Davies; I Trevor Williams. Form IV.: Cecilia Mary Griffiths; John Jones; Thomas Evans. Jf orm.111.: Elsie Picton; Bessie Davies; Sarah Beynon; John Llewellyn Evans; Os- wald Rees; John Martin Roberts. Form II. May Davies; Sarah Anne Thomas; M. Violet Price Jones;. Daniel Davies Evans; David Thomas, Evan J. Lewis Master T Harries Lewis then gave a capital Welsh recitation from "Rhys Lewis." Mr Mervyn L. Peel who received a tremen- dous ovation, said Mr Peel, Scholars and Pupil Teachers of Llandilo County School, Ladies and Gentlemen,—I would that I, too, could address you in the picturesque Welsh tongue. As yet I have not got much beyond "Boreu da i chwi," and "Pa sut ydych chwi nedciyw sentences which, though frought with subtlest meaning and expression, judg- ing by their effect when I let them off, are hardly sufficient for all the requirements of language. I am, therefore, perforce reduced to speaking to you commonplace English; and T me with what sincere pleasure I find myself here this evening, through the kind invitation of your managers, upon an occasion so interesting and so important to all connected with your school. It is also a great satisfaction to me to have this oppor- tunity of offering my very heartiest con- gratulations to those students who have during their year of work, succeeded in gain- ing the prizes and certificates which we have just seen so gracefully distributed to them by Mrs Mayhew. It is my earnest hope, as I am sure it is the earnest hope of all present that they may go on in the path they have so well begun, and continue steadily to climb the ladder of success, and be a credit to your school. When they come, eventually, to take their place in that great final school, where we are all scholars,—the school of life —where the lessons are so hard to learn, and so few of us gain prizes-ma, they then win that greatest of all earthly honours, the esteem, the confidence, and the respect of their fellow men and women. The other day through the kindness of one of your lady managers and your headmaster, I was given an opportunity of visiting and looking over your school. When Mr Gwvn Jones took charge of me over the premises, it was no fault of his that an old familiar sensation came over me for the moment, as if I either had been or was going to be a naughty boy again. Somehow, even at this distance of time, I have never been able quite to get rid of my youthful feeling of awe in the presence or a real live headmaster. But about Mr Gwyn Jones's kindly presence there was really not the shadow of a suspicion of a birch rod concealed, and he most courteously conducted me over the whole of the buildings While every arrangement seemed a pattern cf excellence, I was particularly struck with the magnificent laboratory, and alfio wltJi ] the large room set, apart for cookery and Laundry work. If I may be allowed to say so, I think your managers and all concerned are to be congratulated upon the choice of these two branches of technical training. Cookery and laundry work are fine arts in themselves when carried to perfection; and every woman, no matter in what rank of life she may be, is the more capable for acquiring a good knowledge of these subject? o absol- utely necessary to the comfort of our daily existence. It is said that the way to a man's heart is down his tliroat-a remark whwh from the man's point of view could, of course only have been made by a woman. There may just possibly, however, be a certain amount of truth in it; and in any case it is e worth bearing in mind by all women who care to make their homes attractive, and es- pecially by wives who wish to relieve ineir husbands of any temptation they might other wise have, to imbibe too much at the tavern, or dine, not wisely, but too well at their clubs. One of the good effects of technical instruction, and that not the least, is that it shows young people that what is worth doing at all is worth doing well; and that they can- not be able to do anything and everything, no matter how difficult, as means to be the fashion now-a-days, without taking the trouble to learn how. Moreover, there is no doubt that we ought to do all we can to supply the place'of the old system of appren- ticeship which served us so well in its time, but is now almost dying out. Indeed, if Ave are to hold our own among the nations, in the great commercial struggle, it will be ne- cessary for this country, before long, to pro- cessary for this country, before long, to pro- vide largely-increased facilities for technical training generally..To-day marks the wind- ing up of the work of the school year, when stock is taken, as it were, of the results at- tained, and progress is reported. It is also one of the last days of the dying year A.D. 1904, and as such is suggestive of some solemn thought and reflection. But these thoughts and reflections, if solemn, need not be sad. On the contrary, to my mind, they are cheerful and encouraging. If we look around us at the condition of life obtaining at the present day, and compare them with those of past times, no one but the pessimist can fail to be impressed with the great pro- gress we are making in almost every direc- tion—mentally, morally, and physically— changes which, to my mind, are for the better, whatever some people may say or think—changes which justify belief and hope in the future. Already, we see the dark shadows of ignorance, credulity, prejudice, and superstition slowly dispersing before the spread of modern education, giving place to broader views, wider spheres of thought, higher levels and ideals of life. But it is to the rising generation mainly that our thoughts are naturally directed to-night, and to them therefore I would address these words: Remember that all this education, training and discipline which you are now re- ceiving at school, is but a means to an end. Its purpose is not only that you may become clever, but that you may, when you grow up, become good and worthy citizens of the State --men and women of value not only to your- selves, but to the community in which you live. Keep always before your minds, there- fore, the highest ideals. You will fall far short of them, as indeed we ail must; but, let them be your gukiing stars on life's journey. Cultivate habits of thought and of observa- tion. There is a reason for everything if you only take the trouble to think out the why and the wherefore; and t,he habit of observation, even of apparently the common- est things around you, will add many inte- rests to your lives. The sky, the birds, the insects, the plants, the very stones upon the road, all have an interest and a wonderful story to tell for him who uses his intelligence and has eyes to see, and ears to hear. Re- member, too, that no honest work of what- ever grade it may be—whether of the hand or the head-is to be despised. There is no dignity about labour which is not all its own. The man or woman who earns a living by honest labour is to be esteemed and respected It is only the capable idler—the able-bodied loafer-who is worthy of our contempt. And again, it is not birth, or position, or wealth, or fine clothes that make people ladies and gentlemen in the truest, and highest sense of those words; but good principles, acted upon and carried out through life, the mind that is generous to opponents, that stoops to no meanness, cruelty, or fraud—the manner that is above vulgarity. Lastly, I would ask you to remember this: You are the heirs of all ages. All that has been gained for the • e human race by men and women in the past you inherit. For you are the rights, the laws the liberties, gained after centuries of struggle; the arts, the sciences, the mechanical inventions acquired through ages of painstaking and thought; for you are the marvellous discoveries of secrets wrung from the heart of nature by men of science devoting their lives to laborious research. All are yours, and for you, too. Oh I sons and daughters of Britain is that great Empire that has taken so long and cost so many lives to build, this, all this is your in- neiitance, I ask you, what are you going to do W,th ,t? You ,ho will be the p £ eZ of the race to come. Do not waste it. Do not be prodigal sons and daughters. Study his- a"d yo" may learn to appreciate its value. You will, at least, learn at what fear- Jul cost it has been bought. Think what would the men and women who lived and died a hundred, or five hundred, or a thousand years ago have given if they could only have wCn f3 ag6 ln whlcl1 we are living now! ,N)e11' ,\f you appreciate these things, these thoughts, and take them into your hearts you can but come to one resolve and that is that you, too, will try to do your best to help on the victory of man over circumstances: that you, too, will take your part, be that Z ,af im i?r u proud one> and hand down this goodly heritage, not only unim- paired, but added to and glorified by your own lives, to your children's children A French scene from Moliere was after- wards splendidly enacted by the Misses Jessie James and Jennie Jones, and Mr Trevor Williams in character. They were deservedly encored for their performance. The school choir then sang another glee in excellent style. rpo n..VOTES OF THANKS. mI M um%n proposed a of thanks to the pS graciously distributing wi1 caTrriS'. P°'VeU Seconded> and the motion of Mrs Mayhew.SUitaWy 1MP<>nd<!<1 "i0™1 » Tote of thanks to Mr Mervyn Peel for his polished and encoura- ging speech. Mrs Gwynne Hughes, in seconding, gave some excellent advice to the pupils. Educa- tion expanded the mind and taught men and women that duty came before all else. Some people seemed to think that education un- fitted people for work, but they would all agree with her that the more educated one was the more one reoognised how incapable he or she was (hear, hear). Education taught them to be humble, and also it taught them that honest work of any descrip tion was ennobling, and that, only idleness was degrading (cheers). ThLm?ri(>n was earried amidst applause. ?hed±SnPe6lbrieflly Mr W Griffiths moved a vote of thanks to the Chairman for so ably presiding over the proceedings Miss Kitching, who was loudly applauded < in seconding spoke of the pleasure it gave her ] to return to the town, of which she had so many happy recollections, and to hear that the pupils were continuing their former suc- cesses. The motion having been carried with ac- clamation, The Chairman responded in- a few well- chosen words, and wished them all a Merry Christmas and a Prosperous New Year. The singing of "Hen Wlad fy Nhadau" by Master Thomas Hopkins, and "God save the King" brought the enthusiastic proceedings 1 to a close.

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-l.-=-L. Deep Sea Fishery in Carmarthen Bay. Capt. W. Thomas, of Ferryside, the chief officer of the. Milford Haven Sea Fisheries District Joint Committee, says in his half- yearly report:— In submitting my report for the last half year, during which time the revised Bye- Laws have been in force (having only been passed by the Board of Fisheries on the 20th of February last), I beg to say I have every hope that in a reasonable time the regula- tions will work satisfactorily, and prove .beneficial to the inshore fishermen and shell- gatherers around the district, a large com- munity seeing that Carmarthen Bay alone has a low water coast line of 50 miles, 20 miles of which is in Pembrokeshire. 20 miles in Carmarthen, and 10 miles in Glamorgan. Within this Bay there are very extensive cockle beds and mussel patches covering many square miles of sands in the neighbour- hood of Laugharne, Llanstephan, Ferryside. Kidwelly. Burry Port, Llanelly, Penclawdd, and giving employment to several hundred people, principally women. Many thousand tons of these fish are gathered yearly in that area. Some time ago, at the request of Dr H. Trintrell Bulstrode, of the Local Government Board, I accompanied him around our cockle gathering district, and he expressed surprise at the large area of cockle and mussel ground in the neighbourhood. He also pointed to a I place where Oyster cultivation might be suc- cessfully carried on. To my knowledge a few number of oysters were gathered from the Mussle Sker near by. Dr Bulstrode, when at Laugharne, Ferryside, and St. Ishmael, enquired into the mode of boiling the cockles for market, and witnessed the process, and seemed satisfied with the cleanliness and manner in which the cockles were scoured, boiled, and salted. The cockles and mussels from this part of the district are gathered from clean yellow sand and skers respectively free from mud and sewage, and are obtained from an absolutely unpolluted source. There are also extensive Stake-net fisheries in the same locality giving employment to over a hundred local inshore fishermen. Owing to the large quantities of young seed cockles and mu els this last summer, the stake-net fishing has been far more remunerative than the average for some years past. The second-class trawlers from Tenby and Haverfordwest, since the Bays were opened, have been very fortunate, some of the boats having exceptionally good haul" of plaice of large size, the fish being no doubt attracted to the Bays by beds of small shell-fish. Seven years ago before, when very large quantities of plaice were caught in Saundersfoot Bay, the attraction then was plenty of feed on a bed of small cockles, but owing to the ab- sence of bye-laws to prevent the destruction of cockles, the plaice in a short time disap- peared. The same thing happened in New- port Bay, Pem. A small fleet of 6 sailing trawlers have fished fairly well at that place this year tor plaice, the feed of which there also were small shell-fish, principally cockles. The existence of cockle beds in that loca- lity, I am of opinion, is due to the action of a gentleman who, I have been informed, a few years ago dumped a quantity of cockles over the sands in Fishguard Bay where the cockles had not been seen before, the proba- bility is that some of the cockles were washed aw ay by the action of the currents and settled on favourable grounds in Newport Bay. I I am, and always have been, of the opinion that the fisheries of this district could be very much improved by importing cockles fro mlooalities where they are abundant, and distributed in places where at present there are none. Tons of them could be gathered from places in Carmarthen Bay without in- jury to the cockles or the gatherers, and be easily distributed elsewhere. I am anxious that tins should be done, and carried out in a thorough manner. I earnestly suggest that you will, for the future benefit of the Si PopuJation, take advantage of the oh ell-fish Regulation Act, 1894, which pro- vides for the protection of shell-fisli of all kind, the obligation to redoposit shell-fish, the protection of shell-fish laid down for breeding purposes, the protection of for the proteotion of spawn of shell-fish, the obligation to redeposit such culch, and power to restock any fishery for shell-fish which in- cludes all kinds of Molusks and Crustaceans. such as oysters, mussels, cockles, whelks periwinkles, etc., lobsters, crabs, prawns' shrimps, etc., etc. A few years ago I took an active interest with a gentleman, resident in Ferryside, who for some time endeavoured to improve local fisheries, experimenting in the culture of mussels, plaice, and sole, but unfortunately the pots and boxes and baskets used for the purpose were continually interfered with by vessels crews trading there, with the result that the experiments had to be abandoned TI I ua, ? authoritative protection. ine local nshermen within our district from Cameas Head to Worm's Head being mostly shell-fishermen, I think it only reason able that I shouLú request your active inter- JZ^T f laTriri°f cultivation and pro- tectio nof shell-fish, a policy which would also 1 am quite certain, improve the trawl fishing as well. & The lobster fishing has not been remunera- Sffi u ;SeaSo,V .the reas°n for which it is mS^tb^t0/^ 1Coniplaints have been tearv t« fishermen have taken lobsters con- tiaiy to bye-law regulation, but I have not known such to be the case, the bye-laws hav- ing only been a short time in force and it being difficult to detect all irregularities I the wplf« hopfe,1that gentlemen interested in the elf are of these fishermen will kindly use doue ;:flre r ^tin« °ut the ^ef done to themselves (the men), and thus pre- vent objectionable prosecutions which I am certain it is your wish to avoid. vni{ho mackerel around the coast have been veiy plentiful this year, but small in size and of little market value, owing to heavv iadw ay rates- charged by the Railway Co rW,. ? to, cnPPle. most of the fisherv in- dustiy fiom places within Carmarthen Bav Bass also have been plentiful, giving good sport to line fishermen. Pollofk al«r> Places off Tenby are seen in Els. T'ra^ foitTav8 fh- ryS\de' *nd a,SO Sa»nders- bnt y^ar has been remunerative, but outside trawling by the first class local ti awlers has been exceptionally poor both in Carmarthen Bay and St. Bride's Tn^ng the gieatei part of the summer. Carmarthen ay especially has been very foul with weed and enormous quantities of jelly-fish which llp U,e rom fish'iite In Jishgnaid Bay early in J„ly last Xn<l" n eathei was fine and water very smooth and clew, we noticed myriads of Jhat seemed young fish, not loii- spau-iied, all about long, and it will be interesting during the ne^ ?r t° watch developments Within the Milford Haven a feu years a^o all kinds of fish were fairly plentiful but there, as in most other places around the coast, it has been overfished, and there is the same old cry that the interference of bye- scarcity. n°n"interferenCe has °»>«ed the AnTh^ffi,t:hafc tliei:e is a lo«al Sea Fisheries Act of Parliament for the regulation protection of the Milford Haven Fisheries may ^xplaiii the reason why some of the bye- layvs of the Milford Haven Sea Fisheries Dis- trict do not apply. I have often been ques tioned as to the reason why all the Bye-Laws Haten Thl° Aot116"03 d° n,0t affect Mi^rd oi I it • was Passed in 1806, Anril The Milford Dock, which is almost exclu sively used by the fish trade, owing to the very energetic local management shews genuine signs of its future prosperity n Port whioh C,0mpfitio" of a neighbouring a score n,. «r> "f i "? inducements, lured miW f awiers away from the pre- mier port of Wales; and although the loss to d nrlT f has been very perceptible, the trade is now fast levelling up, and by the spring of next year it will no doubt again be good The np-to-date, substantially-built low water tage, which has just been completed out- side the dock entrance, and the new fish ^al i m a!)Veaf,t' 1°F lts convenience, will be available for the fish boats to discharge at all states of the tide. These, with the first-class railway convenience for transferring the fish into the trains with the greatest possible dis- patch, and the large amount of manual labour required to attend on the 300 odd steam mackerel drifters due to work out of Milford this next season, will, with fine weather, make things hum around the docks at Milford. The fleets of steam trawlers con- sidered, until lately, quite large enough for all ordinary purposes, are now being replaced by much larger boats, with bunker capacity for 150 tons of coal, suitable for the bay trawling on the Spanish coast, and very pro- bubly bb&ts will soon be built and worked out .=- "II"If7" of Milford witit bunker capacities of 200 tons for trawl fishing on the const cf Morrocco, and possibly the Banks of Newfoundland. hen patrolling the district I often come across trawlers whose crews are genuinely ignorant of the exact International Limit' line in this district, and the consequent diffi- cnlty in proving satisfactorily the position of trawling vessels within our jurisdiction, has prevented me on mere than one occasion re- porting skippers tor irregularities. I, there- fore, beg to suggest that small charts, or maps, be printed to scale, copied from the Official Fishery District Map, and attached to pamphlet copies of our bye-laws, and sold to the applicants at their cost price. I also suggest notice boards 1>-0 fixed in conspicuous public places around the district, on whipli our large posters of bye-laws could be posted without risk of being covered over by other public notices. I am subject to a lot of bad- gering^ by advocates when they assert their clients' innocence by pleading ignorance of the bye-laws. I also wish to draw your attention to the very unsatisfactory manner in which the linnt line is marked in some places, defining the jurisdiction of your Committee, especially in the rivers Loughor, Taf and Towy. At Ferryside, for instance, there are three miles of stake-net fishing ground, and a large bed of cockles, where fishermen and cockle gatherers are at liberty, to do as they like without interference from any local autho- rity, as is also the case in Newport Bay, Pem where we have no authority. Neither does it appear that any other body can at pre- sent inter fero. I think it my duty to bring under your notice the service actively rendered by Mr Monk chief coast guard officer, Fishguard who proved several ca;-C3 of illegal trawl-fish ing in Fishguard ane: off Newport Bays within the last year. I also wish to mention the exceptionally goud service which has been rendered for t -e protection of the local fisheries for several years by Captain Joseph Ldinunds, Mr John (chief engineer), Mr J. Charles (mate), and Lhe crew of the steam tug Hero" of Burry Port, who f core a of times without remuneration, put their steamer at my disposal for patrol services around Carmarthen Bay, and have been the means ot keeping trawlers out of prohibited areas On one trip they successfully over- hauled a, fleet oi trawiers fishing within ptp- hibited limits, resulting in their conviction. a W6 me0t SUClV 0bllS^g £ rt%vvs, especi ally in steamers, and J respectfully request vf- u thauked for the manner in which they have assiste-I me for several years at a time when A only iiad my small launch ™ -fA'ZlCe/ t°w' u'° have a Patrol boat veiy suitable for the duties required, proving m' checkmg trawling skippers «rprieibMtltoS'<!eUt''i,y dri'tiDg Withi» In two cases of illegal trawl fishing "Mari- tana has been instrumental m giving me an Proving a conviction, and on several occasions have we been able to prove to trawl skippers the advisability, in future oi saving trouble to themselves by being pS vided with copies of our bye-lavsf and c £ ts Jrl«m i1Sur!cti to enable them to keep out- side prohibited areas.. Up to the present I have not attempted ^primental or any trawling within or out- side this district, the new bye-laws being now in force prohibiting steam trawling. I Con- sider I had no right to do so without voir annhv pei'n'lsslon- I now respectfully make application for leave to use any kind of trawl the W,eXH'lmental ^P0868 in any part of exle1-iltnLLU?y r6qmre> also to dredge expeiimentally for oysters, mussels, or cock- matter I wilF my discretion the mattei. 1 will endeavour to do so with™* Sermarn lnterfereM° the rights of any and'rter^l^'r3/?' i!I°gaI steam trawling and 1 toi illegal stake-net fishing, but there marE'llSrot0" in Cal- reasonable allowanoe li1ade for any e-xpress- t k ™'Chf T not »!>*>«• quite "tiraelj « deavour»iJSt« when on- i ii • carry out- my duties to ssv or do anything ob ierHVn.. i,- ul offensive manS for the difficulties we have to encounter over a tanly Ia.rge district, m carryins th S: MtgtMer, are but 2 th .„)<). t'M