The New York Herald Newspaper, April 25, 1871, Page 7

Pe ae ve SWILERS AND THE SWILE. REMARKABLE REVIVAL THIS YEAR. Hundreds of Thousands of Seals Slaughtered by the New- foundland Fishermen. The Largest Catch for Twenty- five Years. ALL TERRA NOVA JUBILANT. interesting Sketch of the Seal Trafiic. HOME ANQ HABITS OF THE ANIMAL. Hunting and Slaying Among the Icebergs. Americans Engaging in the Pursuit. Jealousy of the Cannie Scotch Merchants. THE SECRET OF NEWFOUNDLAND'S WOES, Hannon Grace, N. F., April 12, 1871. ARRIVAL OF SEALERS AT NEWFOUNDLAND PORTS. I have just descended upon this bustling town from the deck of the steamer Mastiff, which has returned from @ most profitable ran to the seal ice with a cargo of 20,000 pelts, We were among tne first to arrive of the fleet of 150 vessels—‘canvas backs” and steamers—which started for the ice on the Istof March. The catch this year bas been of unexampled yield. Every vessel returning to this Port or S. Jonns is loaded to the fall with pelts, ‘We compare notes with the Retriever and the Dark Barbara, and the figures obtamed from their captains atvest the immensity of the fishery this year, = rs UNPRECEDENTED CATCH. It is computed that already more ‘pelts’ have been landed than were obtained during the entire season of 1870, which lasted from the beginning ot March until far into April. One hundred and six- teen ves:els went out to the ice last year, and these secured about 190,000 seals—a yleld which had mot been reached since 1861, although the intermediate years 1863, 1867 and 1869 had nearly proved as prosperous, the catch in those years being:—For 1861, 234,000, by 144 vessels; 1863, 180,500, by 121 vessels, Tho catch in 1967, by ur vessels, was 184,500, while 1869 showed the profitable yield of 182,000, secured by 104 vessels. But it re- Mained for 1869 to cap the climax, as it was thought, by turning in 189,700 pelts, froma fleet of 116 vessels. The tremendous yield of 1860, 258,000, Drought in by the ficet of 200 fishers, was almost lost sight of in the general jubilation of April last, But it will remain for this year to give Newfound. Yand such a harvest of wealth, acquirea from her “seal fisheries, as wili astound the anticipations of the most sanguine “planter” of St. Johns er Harbor Grace. AN EARLY YEAR. The ice was reached by the steamers at an un- ‘usually early period in March, and seemed almost undiscernable under its vast freight of seals, The oldest veternsim the fleet declare that they never observed the parallel of it since 1860, when, to use an expressive phrase from the lips of one of tne Mastif’s “batsmen”:—‘Swiles was that thick, we wore out four pair of boots a day, bootin’ ’em out of the road” (of course dead), TERRIFIC SLAUGHTER OF SEALS. Our steamer brings in 20,000; and anchored near ‘us is the Retriever, which arrived to-day wit 17,000; and the bark Barbara, with 13,000 aboard—a heavy Joad for a sailing vessel. The captain of the Bar- bara beat us 1n, though under canvas, he having got right In among the floes tenanted by tne seals. All appear to have secured their ‘catches’ in the immense ice fields which came down into the Straits of Belle Isle from the Grand Banks about the latter part of February. The steamers arrived first on account of their superior speed; but now that the sailing vessels begin to come in we can gain some idea of the enormous catch. Every steamer ‘and satling vessel leaving these two portson or about the Jst of March struck the flelds, and conse- quently loaded up immediately. THE VEESELS ENGAGED IN THE HUNT. The steamers Glengarry, Monticello and R. 8. OC. are on their way or have arrived at St. Johns with cargoes of ten to twenty thousand, and several sail- ing vessels are bound thither with twelve to twenty thousand. 80 far as 1 can ascertain twenty steamers ‘Were in the ice, ail from this portor St. vohns, Among those which have gone to Beile Isle are the Mastitf, Glengarry, Retriever, Monticello, Walrus, Hawk, Ospray, Merlin, Lion, Warrior and Wolf. These are all veterans at the business except the Monticello, and the majority are owned in St. Johns, JOY OF THE NEWFOUNDLANDERS, The smiles of complacency that now beam from the countenances of the owners, who are about to Fejoice in the possession of the fraits of the yield, 4s very benignant and catching. The appearance of the famllies of the crews betokens that prosperity 1s ahead; and, above all the odor that seems to perme- ate the earth, tne houses and the people, convinces one that Newfoundland exults in her prosperity and ig striving to make the most of it. Everything locks sealy; the people talk seal; the grounds send up the scent of seal, and tne oleagl- mous odor thereof asconds to neaven—a dificult thing, you might think, in this land of fogs. In fact, you see little else or hear any conversation excevt appertaining to the catching of seals. ‘The taik of the enlightened citizens is of the ar- Tival of so-and-so’s brig or bark, and the institation of comparisons between the yields of this and former years prosperous and ruinous. The fatal year of 1864 here naturally comes in as a reminder that the leaven of misfortune sometimes interpose between the most bounteous gifts of the fickle goddess. THE GREATEST YEAR EVER KNOWN. You will, of course, be treated to extravagant and exaggerated stories of the unparalleled harvest of ‘te sea; but I will not venture into detalls, preferring ww give you the statistics of former years and the incomplete returns of this season. The grand toval may be summed up as exceeding that of the aggregate catch of any year within the past quarter of a century; and when we refer to the statistics of 1860 and 1861, the most prosperous years, producing over two hun«red thousand each, the unparaliejed catch this year becomes more vi- vid. ‘The Warrior, Mastiff, Retriever, Glengarry and Walrus, being steamers, have been enabled artly discharge their cargoes wite expedition; and they will soon be fitting out, with the old crews, for @ second trip to the ice. The musket has been but little used this season, the schools of seals, for such we will call them, veing so dense that the ‘‘bats- men” were wearted with the labor of slaughter, But let me impress you with some idea of the habits of the hardy sealers of Newtoundiand, and their struggles in this strange land, THE MEN WHO RULE NEWFOUNDLAND, The fishermen may, or within a short time could be, practically be sald to be under the control of the merchant princes, who rule the country, dis- courage the development of its fertile mineral re- sourves and'seem to doom the people to the ion, rious struggle with the deep for their livelihood, they lying back in ease and drawing the substance of the poor fishermen, ‘The method by which these merchants assert their sway is complex, but always redounds ultimately to their own advantage. These observations apply to the merchants deal- ing With the seal fishers, although tne rule is peru- ment to the traders with the toilers of the sea who engage in other fisheries, HOW THE FISHERMAN IS IMPOSED UPON. It ig thus:—Each merchant supplies a certain num- ber of boss fishermen (or “planters,” as they are denominated in these regions) with provisions, The Jatter 10 turn retail them \o the fisuermen in their employ, or, pernaps, as in many cases, the mer- chants retain the profit allto themselves by tgnor- ing middlemen and selling direct to the sealers. in these transactions it must be understood that rarely does money pass, The merchant 18 too wily wo allow the men to assume that position of inde- pendence which always attaches to the possession of a few dollars. No, he overcomes the fisherman with guile. He Tealizes the necessities of the son of the sea and inveigies him into the meshes of the network of the disgraceful credit system, which dooms every hum- ble Newfoundlander to a life of battle with te deep for sustenance, These merchants or planters may be lkened to cormorants in their rapacity, ‘This glaring imposition has been practised for a Cg nearly; but a betler state of things is at ‘Tue winters here are awfully severe, and it is at this period that the merchant steps in and plays his employé provisions suficient to carry him through the winter's siege, said stores generally consisting of the wholesome and durable commodities of salt beef, pork, tea, flour, hard biscuit and Molasses, Paymeht just then is immaterial, so the Merchunt blandly says, and an account 18 made out, Wherein all the articles are set down at enormously extortionate figures, Times are hard, of course, and cash1s beyond the question, and invariably the poor fellow 1s dragged into a bargain whereby he 1s bound to retrieve his debt vy a sare of his catch in the following spring. The existence of the fisherman’s family depen: upon his bargain with the merchant, and should the catch prove poor and madequate to satisfy the rapacity of the merchant, the sealer or fisherman finds himself burdened with a debt which seems irremovabie, EVILS OF THE CREDIT SYSTEM. ‘The merchant to the fisherman becomes the verit- able Old Man of the Sea, and the mariner enacts the Sinvad portion of the business and assumes the burthen perforce. However, the contract system has been greatly Improved since 1864, the most disastrous year probavly experienced here, the catch veg only 26,000 seals, The merchants, who had trusted to bounteous Percentages upon the catch were sadiy disap- Pointed, and have since grown cautious of trusting to luck in this premature chicken business. AMERICAN ENVERPRISE AND ITS RESULTS, At least the reason for the change of policy 1s laid to the failures and financial ruin that overwhelmed many then; but in reality it can be traced to the growing independence under the benign influence of the irepressible Yank who has scented this marine Ei Dorado from his haunts in the Passama- quoday and Casco; for be it known that the first vessel from “the Staves” to engage in this amazingly profitabie business is the steamer Monti- cello, sent to the ice as the first enterprise of a United States company. This is but the entering Wedge, but it has raised a terrible huboub. The Monticello has 15,000 pelts, and now iles in the har- bor of St. Johns awaiting the first thaw, that sho may force @ passage to New Bedford. I understand that her captain had some dispute witn the St. Johns custom-house cormorants; but he found Ny match in the Yankee pepper, who refused enter his cargo, and thereby deprived ner Majesty’s officials of the bliss of gloating over a tweaty per cent duty on that cargo, The outcry against Yankee interference in our fisheries, and all that sort of thing, is prompted by these very merchants, who fear the results of the insidious cultivation of Yankee acquaintance by the fishermen here. The Yanks have a peculiar way of putting down the cash for everything, aud that Would be too tompung and would confer too much of a spirlt of independence upon the fishermen. The merchants care nothing for the country, and have, within a few years, attempted to barter away New- foundland to the Canadian Confederation, These observations will serve to explain the yokes which hamper the Newfouudiand fisherman is his struggle for a livelihoud, ~ “HABITS OF THE SEAL. But the main point, and the most interesting, is ee roan ol securing the bone of coatenton—the seal, As stated at the inception of this letter, the ice comes down irom the Arctic Ocean at the begin- ming of March, and with it the seals, who satiate tmeir voracity {In the schools of cod and other finny tribes. ‘This agrecable business proceeds until the “whelps,’’ or young seals, putin an appearance in the centre of a circle of admiring acquaintances, ho fange themselves in dignified state upon va- rious adjhcent cakes of ice surrounding the frigid domicit of the happy family. Considerable interest Manifested in the new comer uutil the mature age of ten days is attained, when the veteran ts left to flop for himself and be- come tne ultimate prey of his born enemy, man. Until about three years ago only sailing vesseis were sent to the ice, an idea prevailing that the steamers, betng of greater specd, would get on the fieila too soon and Kili the cubs before they were sufficiently rown. That idea, however, has been exploded, nd now there are a dozen applicants for a berth on one of the steamers to every one for passage in a satling vessel. Tne shrewd fishermen realize the possibility of making two cargoes with tne atd of steam, and also comprehend that every trip adds to their exchequer. WHEN THE FLEET SAILS. The sailing vessels leave the harbors of St, Johns, Harbor Grace and Bay Roberts in fleets, generaily upon the 1st of March, not sooner. The reason for choosing that date is that if they sail previous and get wrecked in tue floes or gales the merchant Can- hot recover insurance. ‘The sailing vessels devoted to the pursuit of the seal are maintopsail brigantine: with powerful mainsails to assist in Iorcing the vessel through the ice. These vessels are here eupho- niously denominated in the language of the gulle- less and hilarious islanders as ‘jackass brigan- tines”? Whence this designation is evolved I will not hazard. The prows and forward sides of the brigantines are sheathed with tron plating to prevent the grinding of the timber in contact with the ice, On getting out of the harbors the squadrons simul. taneously head up northwardly toward the Straits until the ice 1s fallen in with, generally in four days. The brigantine then cruises abuut or bangs on to a berg with her “ice anchors,’? THE SEAL HUNS PICTURED. On sighting the seais from the masthead the ship's head is turned inthe direction of the prey. If the ice 1s jammed too tnick to permit the vessel’s pas- sage the boats are lowered away and an exhilarating pursuit begins. Ofttimes the seals are five to ten miles beyond the ship, and @ lively pull is necessary. Nothing in the way of food is carried, the men con- tenting themselves with a couple of haratacks and a glass of rum before leaving the ship. The crew is divided into “gunners” and “batsmen,” and these again apportioned into four gangs. The first gang erforms the work of aaue iter; the second gang aul the “pelts” on board the boats; the third gan; twansier them to and stow them away in the hod of the ship, while the fourth gang recuperate to relieve their brethren by indulging inanap, Tne pursuit of the seals is exciting. The ice reached, the bats- men proceeded to business, Each is provided with Sones similar in shape to the American base ball bat, with the difference of greater length. ‘These batemen are extremely agile and level- headed. ‘They leap upon the floating ice and: make direct for the young seals, The latter are summa- rily disposed of by a blow on the nose from the bat or a Kick from the foot, en passant. The foot blow ts termed a “boot,” and being dealt powerfully, settles the Juventle seal, With amazing foomar/ the batsman continues his work of destruction. He seems to be everywhere and his track is marked by havoc. He 1s generally provided with an alpenstock, with which he springs trom ‘‘ice-pan” to “ice-pan,’? often alighung on cakes tilted atan angle of thirty degrees. A slip here wo.ld be death: but your genuine seal hunter rarely trips up, for he is educated from the cradle to endurance and agility, and endowed with fearless- ness and a clear head. Should the animal prove a veteran and show ht the gunner comes to the batsman’s succor, and the sea monarch Le Poe over with a charge of shot through his head. The rife ts not used, as it discharges the bullet with too much velocity, and a rtchoonet shot rebounding from an iceberg might injure or kil the wrong. party, where so many men are scattered about. Therefore a long Smooth-bore gun, loafled with shot ana larger than buckshot, performs the service. When the youne, seal 1s nit it gives a cry startlingly similar to hat of a babe, and it requires two or more trips to the ice before any save the most hardened can over- come a certain feeling of repugnance at their slaughter, With the ancient parties, however, it is diferent. They are terribly ferocious, and incautlousness or precipitation will leave its consequences upon the eLERS: Wight who rashly ventures to close quar- Ora. The old seal’s incisors will cut slices from a limb as clean as by the scalpel. Indeed, the enraged animal often vanquishes both gunner and batsman, and puts them to ignominous flight, as their only salvation, The great point ts to save the laceration of the sealskin, and this can only be done by a shot in the head. ‘The seal’s frontispiece is protected by a thick “hood” of skin, which 1s bullet-proof, From this rotection they obtain the designation of “old ods.” The only time when they are vulnerable is when they throw back this hood to ny at the attacking parties; and then the gunner lets drive @ charge square into the distended mouth of the seal, finishing his career, A LAUGHABLE PREDICAMENT, An amusing incident here occurs to me, One of the men had set his heart upon a “cub,” and was chasing it, the seal making amazing time, and dis- tancing the pursuer, who, in his eagerness to secure the coveted prize, rushed past an “old hood,’ when he was suddenly seized by the seat of his trowsers by the seal. The man pulled and swore; the eeal fRaet and tore. Everyoody was convulsed with hter, and could not move a peg to the man’s assistance, At last teeth gained the day, the ratment parted, and the man, whose courage had long since oozed away, fled. He reproached one of the scoifers subsequently by the remark, when the incident was referred to, “Be jabers, Moony, you’re no man.’? LOADING THB SEALS IN THE VESSELS. The Work of slaughter finished, the disposition of the dead commences. The bodies of the seals are cut across the throat, around the Aippers and down belly. The carcass ts drawn, and the pelt, with Inering fat or blubver, is laced up with sinews, shoe fashion. Two or three skins are tied together in a bundie, and the third gang raise to the deck and stow them atvay in compact masses in the hold. The La tg are eaten by the sealers with great gusto in Iteu of frean provisions. I have heard many sealers declare that, when extausted, they have resorted to the revolting act of taking the heart of a ce seal and eating itraw. They de- clare that it reanimates them. PROFITS OF THE TRIP. The cargo being stowed, the exultant mariners steer for home and begin to calculate the returns of the voyage. Presuming that the catch has averaged 20,000, the captain's share will be about one shitling for every seal; that will be about $10.000 in Ameri- can money—a very fair month’s work. The men Wil receive about $600 to $70u for their share. ORACK SHOT DELUDED. Whiie the ship 13 going to port a rich story at the expense of a military officer would not be inad- missible. Her Majesiws Canadian Kiftes hi nothing vo occupy their ume aroand the barracks; 80 Lieuienant D, became seat struck. According! he transferred the spondulicks for a berth and sailed. When about three days out, early one morning the captain alarined D., who was cleaning his idolized rifle, by rusiing down in afrantic state and be- seeching D. to come up—‘Such @ splendil shot! ‘rhere's 4 seal right astern, so come and try that new gun of yours.” D, hastily siung his rifle together, grabbed his am- munition and went on deck. Sure enough there was a splendid chap about sixty yards astern, D. carefully sighted and fired; but the seal swam majestically after the ship. Again he blazed away, with the same Ill success, “Sure, Mr, D.,”? said the captain, ‘that gan or Yours is no good, or else you are a bad shot.” D. was a crack shot, so his feetings can be imagined, He became terribly excited, and’after firing thirty More siots he retired below in disgust. ‘They hauied up that seal, which was moving with @ string, and found every shot in it, The captain had oxed up a mock seal with intent to deceive. Poor ‘tom D. was so dreadfully chaffed about his Markmanship that he sold into another regiment and abandoned the shades of Newfoundland. THE VESSEL'S ARRIVAL IN PORT, The port reached, presumably St. Johns, the ves- Sel is hauled up alongside the wharf for the purpose of discharging her cargo. The men appoimt a per- son to represent them, to see that fair weight 19 taken, for the fat and skin are weighed together. ‘The cargo is removed from the hold, turee buadles atatime, by means of blunt hooks, which do not tear the skin. After the pelt has been weighed it is passed over to the skinner, here known as the “butcher,” who dexterously separates the fat from the skin. The fat 1s so tough as to necessitate sharpening the knife at every slice, The skinner makes no care- Jess cuts, as every skin injured loses him a shilling. AU St, Johns the skinning ts done on the Southside Hills. The method of separating the pelt and fat is peculiar, WIIAT A SEAL YIELDS, The skinner sits on a pile of pelts, with his imple- ments, and conducts his labors, As the fat is cut off in great cakes it falls into a large trough, As the trough becomes filled a gang of men come around and empty the contents into their barrows aud wheel olf the fat to the “chopping house,” The chopping Kuife is something like a straight hoe, with avery sharp edge, It cuts the tat into pieces of about ten pounds weight. It is then hoisted up into the vat and left to decompose, which 1s elfected in about # tortmght, The vicinity of the butchers and oil-triers abounds in an atmosphere decidedly anything but salubrious or agreeable to the olfactorles; and yet, strange to say, every one connected with tne fishing or preparation of the ofl becomes exceedingly stout, aud seems incapabie of existence away irom his bouquet of odors of seal. A A ee Line aganieen pace oD ae or 3 here and at St. Johns by whicl the Be and ‘13 a) ‘Bobo chopped up is passqd be- tween two iron rollers with teeth, which rénd and reduce it toa pulp. It is then turned into a vat, steam is turned upon the mass and the fat com- Mences to run in a few hours. This plan is decided- ly the more expeditious one, The vat is about two stories high in ordinary trying houses, 1s lined inside with tin or iron and upon the exterior looks mucn like a log cabin. The oil, after being tried, 18 put into casks and shipped to the United Kingdom, where it is used for lubricating machinery and for the manufacture of an imitation sperm oil. The skins go to France, the United States and England, being transformed into gloves, caps and boots, The French use them for patent leather. There ts very little residuum, as almost every part of den is anUeed: ; The butcher gets the scraps, the flesh, flippers, &c., in addition one regular pay of three cents per pelt for skinning, by which alone he realizes twenty ta thirty shillings daily, The children turn an humble penny by peddling the flippers and hearts at twe pence, as food for the dogs. The entire juvenile and canine population are in ecstacies for weeks. Tae curs cease their howling, become models of civility, and placid con- tentment beans from their eyes, PROFIT TO ALL HANDS, The catch for a sailing vessel with acrew of sixty men, if reacuing 10,000 head, will distribute to each man of the sixty $480 in gold, and allow to the cap- tain as his percentage the sum of $1,000, This is what enables the captain to transfer his flag, alter two good seasons of two cargoes each, rom the sailing vessel to a steamer. The sealer, where he is paid in store goods, gen- erally selects as the first articles hts summer's supply of provisions, and to supplement this by the pur- chase of @ crinoline for his daughters and a new gown for his dame; and then the profits of the voyage are exMausted. Shou:d they not be he dissl- pates his réady cash in a glorious spree. If he is wise shiftiess he hangs around corners and patronizes lamp-posts, until tne cycle of time re- Volves and brings on the cod fishery, which begins in the month of May. Those who are competied to remain home also im- prove their time by catching seals in the harbors. Besides the seal there are uhree other proiitable fisheries carried on by Newfoundlanders—viz., the cod, salmon and herring. Scarcely has the bustie created by the arrival of the sealing vessels sub- eiied, nee frepth cause of business excitement egins. The preparation for the cod fishery makes fisher- men, merchants and planters bestir themselves, A stranger, on eutering the harbor of St. Johns through the Narrows, 18 somewhat puzzled at the sight that presents itself to the eye on elther side. There, jutting out from the rocks on the Nillsides, he beholds a number of hanging gardens, propped up by long poles. He naturally inquires what those artificial green fields are used for, and 1s told they are the fakes upon which the cod ish is cured. Their construction ig simple, consisting, of green spruce boughs laid d®wn, one after the other, and inter- laced with poles. Upon these flakes the fisu are spread out to dry. It may not be uninteresting to the readers of the HeRaLp to give them a short de- scription of the process of curing the cod fish and manufacturing the celebrated cod liver oil. AS soon as the boats that ish near the harbors are loaded they return to the stage head, a large store, made out of the same material as that which com- eer the flake, with which itis connected. The oat is here unioaded, and the fish is taken charge of by a man called a tend table, whose duty it 13 to ut it on the ee ee where it first goes into e hands of the cutthroat. He, armed witn a dag- ger-shaped Knife, slits the throat of the fish and cuts it down the belly, then passes it to the header, who stands, like Jack-in-a-vox, in a round hole, Assoon as he nas gleaned the precious liver away from the entrails he presses the neck of the fish against the edge of the board and breaks off the head, that drops into a pound, pushing the body to the splitter, wRo sits in front of him. The trade of the splitter needs much practice and skill, so that he may cut out the soundbone and split the fish down to the tail without driving the knife through or slicing on avy portion of the body. When it leaves the hands of the splitter it is drawn away to the salter, whose position is one of much responsibility, as upon his skiifal treatment depends, in @ great measure, the good quality of the voyage. The fish is salted, tier above tier, until the bulk stands three or tour feet high and ten or twelve feet long. 1tis kept in this condition fer the space of two or three weeks, when it is taken to the ram’s horo—a large square box— loweretl down into the salt water and thoroughly cleansed. After this cleansing process itis placed in a bulk, Which the fishermen term a water horse, In @ few days this aquatic equine animal 1s car- ried to the flake and spread out to dry. Under the rays of the sun it presents a beautiral sight, as in this early portion of the process it is spread face up, and has a golden tinge. It takes about @ month or six weeks’ care to render the fish fitfor market, It is claasifled into four qualities; the first and most valuable, 1s called merchantable; the second, Madeira; the third, West India, ana the fourth, tal qual, or such as itis. This last name, as well as the second, was taken from the Spaniards, who trade a good deal with the island. The West India quality also "ac why the name was given it, Almost all the fish coming under that head is shipped to the islands bearing that name. And now for a few words relative te the mana- facture of cod liver oll. It 18 now about eighteen years ago since @ lucky individual named Fox in- vented the simple process by whicha pure refined oll can be extracted from the liver of the codfish. Before that time they were simply thrown into puncheons exposed to the sun, and as they slowly Melted into oil it was drawn off and filtered into casks. The oil then was of aduil red color, was Most repulsive to the smell, and in its very taste the strongest of emetics. Now it has a clear, bright hue, and 1s a8 transparent as the most crystal spring. The disgusting taste and smell sre gone, and it 1s looked upon as a health-giving medicine. ‘The cause of this great change fs to be found in the mode of manufacture onginated by Mr. Fox. It consists of the following simple details :—Tue livers, after being well washed, are placed into a large boiler that fits into another botler, a distance of about three inches being preserved between the two all over, with the exception of the rims, which are hermetrically welded together. Into space water is pumped, and from the force of the steam made the livers yield their last drop of pure oil, which is skimmed off as soon as it is formed by @ man employed for that purpose, as weil as to keep stirring the contents of the pot, so that they may not be burned. When skimmed off tt ts filtered through a double set of thick moieskin bags to free it from any dregs that tt may yet retain. It takes about two and oue half gallons of livers to produce one gallon of refined oil. From my travelling companion I learned that the Newfoundlanders look with much distrust upon the Fishery Commissioners now holding their tabie-taik iu Washington. The colonists have always been treated with harshness and negiect by the so-called mother country. It was not until the commence- ment of this century that they were allowed the slightest privilege. ‘They were as much siaves as the serfs of Rusgia, and Roman Catholicism was pro- scribed under the penalty of fine and imprisonment, The island was as a nursery for British seamen, and settlers were forbidden to bulld thereon, To appease Franco many valuable dishing privileges were given up to her fishermen by the British government. in 1867 more encroachments were to be made on the rights of the Newfoundianders. They manfully resisted the additional spoliation and sent the leader of the local government to England to explain matters. The people were in intense ex- citement, the British ensign was turned upside down on many a flagstaff in St. Johns, and if the Downing street authorities had persisted in their attempt to farther impoveris& the fishermen by sacrificing their best fishing grounds to the French there would have een much trouble and probably much bloodshed in the island. Resistance by tne colonists Would, no doubt. be fruitiess against the NEW YORK HERALD. TUESDAY. APRIL 25, 1871—QUADRUPLE SHEET. power of England. .I¢ would have had the effect, however, of calling the attention of the people of the United States to the shameful and oppressive conduct of ‘land to the land, of which she boasts as one of her oldest colonies. it 1s the Cinderella of Great Britain’s motherly love, After an expensive Commission had dined the matter over, it was at length conceded as @ boon that Newfoundland would not at that time be deprived of any further rights. It 1s now feared by the Newfoundianders that an insidious attempt may be made by the present High Commission to do something detrimental to their fishing interests, The colony repudiated alike the coaxing and threatening of Great Britain and Canada when brought to bear on it to make it Joi the Doininion. They rejected, by an almost unanimous vote, the terms of union, and preserves their local responsible government, Would to Heaven that the country Was under the Stars and Stripes is tie fervent prayer of every Newfoundlander who 1s anxious to oy ‘on country prosperous and her people inde- METHODIST MINISTERS. The Preachers’ Powwow on Reporters and Re- ports—Tartuffism vs. Common Sense. After an adjournment of three weeks, to cover the Annual Conference sessions and the consequent ministerial changes, the Methodist Preachers’ Asso- ciation met yesterday morning, fresh and ready for anything chat might come before them. Their Com- mittee on Topics had nothing ready for discussion, and they had so thoroughly drained the subject of amusements before the adjournment that there was hardly anything to talk about. The first vusiness in order, therefore, was to suspend the rules so that the nominating committe previously appointed might report the names of the oficers for the current year. These were reported by Rey. J. K. Sandford, as fol- lows:— E ELECTION OF OFFICERS. President, Rev. M. D’C. Crawford, D.D.; Vice Presidents, Revs. E.G. Andrews, D.D,, and J. S. Porter, D.D.; Secretary, Rev. Alexander McLean; Committee on Topics, Revs. D. Curry, D.D., C. D. Foss, D.D., and L. R. Dunn, Dr. Crawford favored @ change in the officers every year, but the meeting did not, and when Mr, Sandford put the motion the report was adopted unanimously. Mr. Sandford then presented the thanks of the Managers of the Old Ladies’ Home, for the services rendered to the institution last year, and asking that the same be continued the present year. Messrs. Sandtord and Bachman were then appointed a com- mittee todrafta pian of preaching and religious services for the Home dunng the present conference year, : Rev. Mr. Messiter thought it would be interesting to the meeting to hear something about the condl- tion of Bishop Clark, and asked Dr. Crawford or Mr, Sandtord—who accompanied the Bishop from Peekskill, where he was prostrated, to his home in Clocinnati—to give some statement of the journey to the meeting. Dr. Crawford did so, with a request to any reporters who might be present not to publish the details. This, when the Doctor had finished, brought Dr? Roche to his feet to inquire if there was nut on the minutes @ resolution, adopted some two years ago, . PROHIBITING THE PUBLICATION of the reports of this meeting in secular or religious papers, Several members remembered the passage of such @ resolation, and none of them remembered 1ts revocation, hence Dr. Roche moved ‘That it {s the continued sense of this meeting that its pro- ceedings shail not be reported in the secular or religious press, and we request compliance with this resolution. The Doctor sald they came together there as it were in mental undress, to talk over matters, many, if not al!, of which they did not want to see in print next day. They spoke sometimes unad- visedly, and the reports quite frequently misrepre- sent them. The Rey. L. H. King could see no reason why re- ports of the preachers’ mectings in Chicago, Cin- cinnati, Philadelphia, Pittsburg and elsewhere— comparatively insigniticant bodies—should be sent on here for pubiication in the religious newspapers, and he supposed paid for, and this meeting go un- reported. le read all such reports with very great pleasure and delight, and the more so if he was in the country and could not be present every week, He thought the reports were not only just and fair, but, iike Dr. Bond’s photograph, THEY WERE “MORKIBLY EXACT,” so that, instead of finding fault with reporters, they should not make themselves ridiculous by anything they might say or do. He was in favor ol the fullest publicity of their proceedings. Mr. McLean, the secretary, made a personal ex- planation that he had never furnished a line of the doings of the meeting to any paper, religious or secular. ‘The Rev. Mr. Landon, though a sufferer by former Teports, was strongly In favor ol the publication of their proceedings if for no other reason than to stop them from CUTTING UP ANTICS and to make them more careful and guarded in their language. A lew weeks ago, when the sublect of amusements was up, he quoted some lines fronically, which he found afterward reported as sober advo- cacy by him ofdancing. He did not think the evil could be remedied by the resolution proposed. Dr. Cattell could not see how their resolutions could bind any one but those who vote for them, and they should not be abie to carry them out un- less they kept a doorkeeper to waich and criticise every person coming here, and he did not deem any such action advisable. He favored the liverty and presence of reporters. Dr. Curry remarked that something might be said on both sides of thls question; and, while he was not unqualifiedly opposed to reporters being present, there are many things which are sald by the preachers in this meeting which cannot be under- stood by reporters unless they are Methodists and somewhat familiar with the Church policy and dis- cipline. Sometimes a man is misrepresented by the omission or insertion of a word. The insertion of a ‘not’ places him in the negative when he designed to be in the affirmative, or the omission of a quallty- ing phrase or sentence MAKES HIS MEANING OBSCURE, ifnot altogether tne opposite of what he had said and meant. He hoped that¢a line might be drawn somewhere in this regard. Dr. Roche made a personal explanation, and asked consent of the meeting to withdraw his resolu- tion, which was granted. ‘The Rev. Mr. Bickley regretted that the resolution should have been so disposed of. He would have preferred to have it adopted or rejected, that they might Know where they stood. le had heard it currently reported that a member of this meeting had been arraigned before his Annual Conference for words uttered here, and he wanted to know if they were to be held liable in this way. He did not know of the facts himself, and sought information. ie rumor relates to the arraignment of Rev. J. . Shaffer, for saying that he danced with his own wife and children im his own haved and to their own music, The fact was published in the HERALD at the tiine.] Dr. Cattell again took the floor to speak on this question, and very properly and strongly denounced THE EXERCISE OF SUCH PETTY TYRANNY in this body, (Cries of “Shame! shame !” were heard against the accusing minister.) Dr, Cattell was frequently interrupted, and eiforts were made to crowd him down, but he held the floor, and when the Chair decided that this desultory conver- sation was out of order and that there was no business before the meeting, the Doctor made busi- ness for himself and it by offering a resolution ‘That {t 18 deemed a violation of the courtesies and proprie- ties of this meeting to have any brother arraigned elsewhere for words spoken here. Dr. Cattell proceeded to speak on this resoiution, which was received by the Chair, He thought it unpariiamentary, CONTRARY TO THE USAGES OF METHODISM and ungentiemanly to arraign @ man in his Annual Conference for facts admitted by him here and Le could not be known had he not revealea them. ‘To stop the discussion of such a delicate question the Rev. Mr. Cooney moved to lay the resolution of Dr, Cattell on the table, which was done. Dr. Curry regretted the action, as 1t was a virtual reception of the paper by the meeting, ana gave a wrong impression that they were there as censors of the action of the Annual Conferences, He would not have received it at all, Alter the introduction of some new ministers here and of visiting brethren the meeting was dismissed with the benediction by Rev. M. Chapman, SUPERVISORS OF ELECTION, Under the amended United States Election law the several United States Circuit Court Judges are re- quired to appoint, before the 1st proximo, Chief Supervisors of Election in the various districts com- prising their circuits. Judge Woodruff has made the following appointments in his circuit:— Southern District of New York, John I. Daven- port; Northern District of New York, Charles M. Denison; Eastern District of New York, Samuel T. Jones; District of Connecticut, Heury M. Burvon, of Hartford. No appointment bas yet been made for the District of Verinont. REAPPOINTMENTS. Juage Woodrutt has reappointed Commissioner Kenneth G@. White C.erk of the United Scates Circuit Court for the Second Judicial district of the United States, previously reappointed by him. Mr, Hamilton M. Keetfe nas been reappointed Crier of the court. THE NEW COMET. A comet, discovered by Mr. Lewis Swift, of Mara- thon, N. Y., on the evening of the 15th instant, was announced to us by a telegram on the léth, but, owing to cloudiness, it was observed here for the first ime on the sth. As seen through the great Equatorial it appeared as but 4 faint nebula, with- out any definite nucieus, Its approximate position last night was 3 hours, 30 minutes right ascension, and 46 degrees and 6 minutes north declination. ‘The right ascension 1s creasing 3 minutes 20 seconds, and the declination ig diminishing 30 minates daily. G. W. HOUGH, DUDLEY OnseRvAToRY, April 22, 1871, SPAIN AND THE NEW REGIME. Chureh Festivals, Turf Sports and Brilliant Receptions at Court. 1 persed without bloodshed. Government papers f cuse the agents of the Workmen's Lpieraational clety of counselling the lavorers to strike ior Wages. It is said that agents of the Inte: are 1n all the principal towns of the peninsula, ai are secretly working the downfall of the gover ment, and that @ combmed outoreak m shortly be expected by the working classes. POLITICAL RIOTS—SAD RESULTS OF THE ELECTION From lists that have been forwarded to differe newspaper offices it appears that the number persons who were kill d and wounded Feo 5 t late elections have been by far more numerous Minister Sickles’ Audience With Amadens | was supposed. ‘Tne gu says that di t elections more than a hundred persors and Interesting Interview With the Young Qucen. Gallantry of the General—Presentation of Ameri- can Literature to Her Majesty— National Popu- lar Contest Between Inherited Prejudices and Modern Progress—Political Specula- tion Against the Solidity of the Crown— Election Fights and Fatal Results— Democratic Agitation to Order—Revo- lutionary Efforts of the Working- men’s International Union—Carl- ism and Carlist Chances. MADRID, Apri! 2, 1871. Just now the glorious old city of Seville is the centre of attraction, and all who can by any man- ner of means get away from business here are hastening thither to witness the solemn Church ceremonies of Holy Week, and partake in the re- joieings of Easter, Iam told that the ctty is already filled with foreigners from all countries, who have come upon the Sevillaios lke a cloud of locusts to consume their provisions and mak? everything ex- pensive there. These foreign visitors will, however, get nothing to eat without paying for it, and paying well for it. During the past few days the trains for Seville have been crewded with passengers of all classes of soclety. The Spanish arfstocracy opposed to the new régime have also gone there, and it 18 said that, frustrated in their resolution of adopting the Manola costume of 1808 here, they propose doing so at the fair of Seville—an event which comes off after Hoy Week, Another attraction is the Spanish turf Derby, which will take place during the fair. The races promise to be brilliant, as many of the military offi. cers and other officers attached to the garrison of Gibraltar have entered their horses In the lists. NOTABILITIES ON THE “ROAD’? FOR THE TURF. Among the notables who have left for Seville is General Sickles, American Minister in Madrid. ‘The Crown Princess of Brazil and her husband, the Count d’Eu, have already arrived there, and have taken up their quarters at the Palace of San Telmo, residence of the Duke of Montpenster. MINISTER SICKLE3 IN PRIVATE AUDIENCE—TETE-A- TETE WITH THE YOUNG QUEEN, General Sickles before leaving the capital had a private audience of King Amadeus, and also a very interesting (te-a-léte with the Queén of Spain, his wife. When the General arrived at the palace he found that King Amadeus was engaged m the reception of his Grace the Duke de Palmelia, special Ambassador from his Majesty the King of Portugal, who com- plimented Amadeus, in the name of his royal master, “on his advent to the Spanish throne,” pre- senting him at the same time with the Portuguese military orders of “Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ,” and “St. Benedict de Avis and de san- tiago,’”’ and bestowed on the Queen the order of “our Lady of the Conception of Villaviciosa.”? When on his way to the Salonde Ambajadores to receive the Portuguese Duke, his Majesty espled the American Minister, and stepping astde from the procession shook him heartily by the hand. After the interchange of a few werds between the King and the United States diplomat, the procession continued its course, General Sickles, accompanied by his attaché, Mr, W. Edgar Conover, took a turn through a magnitl- cent suite of apartments while the ceremony of re- ceiving the Portuguese was going on, They had just come to a halt in an exquisitely furnished little apartment when the rustling of rich silk was heard, a lady appeared on the threshold; she hesitated. The General, though not as yet presented, recognized in the beauty before him the Queen of Spain. He made her a courteous salutation and her Majesty, radiant with smiles such as dimpled Hebe’s cheek, advanced and held out her hand to the gal- lant officer and at once opened conversation as with a familiar fmend. The King or some other distiu- ished personage had evidently been talking with fer Majesty about the General, and no doubt he bad been pointed out to her on the public promenades, THE QUEEN AN ACCOMPLISHED LINGUIST—TENOK OF THE CONVERSATION. The Queen possesses a highly cultivated intellect and speaks five different languages. ‘The conversation turned on different topics, but her Majesty dweit more espectally on such as re- ferred to Spain, and I have no doubt that the American Minister spoke bis mind freely and gave her Majesty some sound advice. Wile touching on the glories of old Spain, and referring to Spanish literature, tt occurred to the General to ask the Queen if she had read the works of Washington Irving. Her Majesty replied thas she had heard them spoken of, but had not yet had the pleasure of reading them. The General sald that he would present her with the works cailed ‘*T siexe of Granada” and “The Tales of tie Alhambra.” Her Majesty graciously accepted his oer, with a profusion of thanks. On the entrance of the King General Sickles mado known the object of his visit, and after some farther conversation with their Majesties took icave and started the same evening for Seville. ROYALTY AND RELIGION. ‘The King’s Saints Festival Day has been observed here with the usual formalities. A royal salute was fired, the troops mounted their gala uniforms and the royal standard floated on the diilerent minis- terial departments. In the afternoon there was a grand levee (hesa- manos) at the Palace. The show of generals was brilliant, but the assistance of grandees of Spain very meagre, THE DYNASTY OF THE PAST. The ex-Queen Isabeila still continues at Geneva, and a letter trom that place informs us that sie ts in ill health, ‘The same letter says that Count de Espeleta, one of her genttihomobres, vas resigne. his office and Is on his way to Pampeluna, where le 1n- tends residing. Tho Revolutionary Agitation—Elements and Aim of the Movement—Lnbor in its Organ- ization Against Law and Existing Order. MapRID, March 28, 1871. The representations of the government organs respecting the arrival and reception of her Majeaty the Queen have created quite a revolution in the opposition press. There ts no doubs that puting has been carried to the utmost limit of exaggeration, and therefore the outcry is not raised without grounds. You have already recetved 1 description of what took place on the occasion, which can be depended on as a fair and impartial statement. I may as well, however, give you some extracts from different papers, so that your readers may draw their own conclusions. The Discussion say ‘The Ministerials persist tn calling black white. They say there Was (ie most frantic enthusiasm in tuis city on account of the arrival of Queen Maria Victoria. We only Wish.all the readers of their papers were in Madrid at the thine. We can only say, once for ali, It is false. ‘The Queen's arrival must have produced a great effect im tho money market, for the day after her entrance the stocks went down. La Esveranza asks “why the greater part of the coachmen and footmen of grandees and others are dressed in deep mourning?” ‘La Iquaidad says:— The cheers and acclamations were no doubt in tne Imagination of the citizens; bat the voice, so overcome With emotion, refused to give utterance to their thougits. Silence, therefore, only broken by tne obligatory vivas of the troops, was ubserved on the entrance of the royal family. Zealous em- ployés threw pigeons, partridges, laurel crowns and sonnets frou: the balcontes of ministerial de- partments, and would have thrown themselves: down, but'we are at tie end of tae mouth, and they have not yet been paid. ‘The Correspondencia says that the soldiers re- ceived four reals (twenty cents) apiece. (O1 course it was not stipulated beforehand that they should cheer.) The following I extract from other difterent papeys:— Of all the grandees’ houses tn the streets, through which the royal procession passed, the only one ue- corated was tuat of Count de Ohate, and ¢ there half the balconies were without draperies. The Count 18 uniied by femily ties wo General Zavala, but his sympatines are with the Restoration party; therefore it may be traly said that the Count hag lit one taper to St. Michael and another to the Devil. ‘The ministerial papers would persuade peopie that the Queen was received enthusiastically when the mhabicants only observed # decorous and respectful demeanor, ‘there was only one balcony in every two hundred draped, and at night two lighted tapers in every four streets. TRADES’ ORGANIZATIONS AGITATION. I will now pass to other matters. At Barcelona the strike of the factory people has filled the author ities with great alarm. The troops, both cavalry and infantry, Wore called out and the multitude die were and upwards of a thousand wounded. The me flagrant ikegalities nave beeu committed int Voting, consequently many protests have dé ~ made, criminai prosecutions instituted, end tf Sree that several of the elections will be @ THE PARLIAMENTARY SESSION. It {8 generally supposed that some fleree ¢ bates will come off in the Cortes, and that @ maim terial crisis 18 mevitable. I Martos, slunister State, shoula go to Paris as ambassador—and 16 believed by many that he will—Moret, Minisver Finance, will be the only democrat or adv: Progressist in the Cabinet. In the expectation very noisy session at the reopening of Congress it said the Queen will not attend, The new Deputies are flocking to the capital, az it is hoped that something will be done in the wi of reforms, for up to the present time there h been “much ado about nothing.” ‘There is | douot that Marsfal Serrano, Prime Minister, has most difficult rdle to periorm. The Carlists, as I have already told you, obtaim fifty-four representatives in the Cortes, They @ vastly elated. ‘They close their eyes to the fact thi their votes have been ropbed from the revubitcan who, faithful to their compact in the coalition, gat their votes to the Carlists, but the Carilsts, mstead giving theirs to the republicans, desi ther ‘They are weak enough to sappos> that because th fifty-four members in Parilament they he vein the country. They won't belie that their deputies are merely crows adorued wi ‘3 feathers. Carlists’ plots outside are so numerous that lit attention 1s paid to them. They are things pected, and consequently prepared for. ‘They a little extemporary dramas, got up tor the edifieats of Don Carlos, and for che personal benelit of @ fe persons who are constantly deceiving him and g Ung money from him. ARISTOORATIC REACTIONISM. The grandees and others of the aristocracy wi have not recognized the new sovereigns are, a4 hear, raising the cry of “#spaia para los gp nu , Suera los estrangeros!” (spain for the Spa lards, down with the foreigners) It has been sa that ladies in favor of the old régime would we the costume ot 1808 (4 a manola), aud so would take thelr atternoon drive on the Prado, ‘The ladies of the nobulty have their champions | the army, forTam told that mapy gailant have dectared that they will challenge all who eli Offer Wo insult the noble dames of Spain, RUNNING NOTES—POLITICAL AND GENE! The Chicago Tribune mentions as among the publican papers that have opposed the sional Force bill, the following:—The Boston ad tiser, the Portland Advertiser, the Springfield publican, the New York Eventng Post, Harp Weekly, the Buffalo Commercial, the Cinetn Commercial, the St, Louis Demoorat, the Tribune, the Charleston (8. C.) Republican, and Atlanta (Ga.) New z£ra. ‘The Washington Sunday Chronicle announces following as amoung the wants of the national © tal— A park, better theatres, an opera house, drin fountains, summer river resorts, a new xecat mansion, & garden for open-air concerts. &@ geng use of sprinkling carts, an air line railroad to Jast, becter lighting of the streets at night, bet drives in the vicinity of the city, the compietl the Washington Monument, the Treasary D ment pavement brought to a level with the &e. To all which the Chrontcle calls the attention the new government. Colonel Join A. Gowan, formerly of Boston, raised the Russian fleet sunk at Sebastopol, ts) turing in the Southern cities on the suby “Floating Vessels Across the Bar Below New leans.” ‘The Columbus (Miss.) Index says:— The New Yor«k HeRa.p favors a sweeping nesty biil, iucluding Jett Davis aud all the rest of Southern leauers, ‘The terror in which Mr. Da) heid by the mean and cowardly adwinistratio calls the redoubtable Cid of old, who won bi his enemies even after his brave spirit ceased to mate his sturdy frame, The Philadetphia Press has @ favorable wo! say in behalf of the nomination of John W. Gary President of the Baltimore and Ohio Ratir pany, as the democratic candidate for Preside BROOKLYN'S NEW THEATRE. Progress of the Work—Dimensions Building. The work of building the Brooklyn theatre, site recently occupied by that venerable si St. John’s Protestant Episcopal church, corg Washington and Jounson streets, is rapidiy gressing, and hundreds of curious people ¢d gate dauy about the fast rising brick walls structure and discuss the mefits or demertt prospects of this new Indication of theatrical prise in the City of Churches. The building q an area 70 feet broad by 127 feet in length main eatrance 18 on Washington street, n story is to be of tron, and above that Phi faced brick will be the material used. It will G proof and most substantial throughout, Ti exclusive of the purchase of the land, ts e at $100,000, The stage entrance is to be on Jo The height irom the floor to the don be sixty feet. Crimson plush 1s to be the shad inthe upholsteriog, and the walls are to be} scoted in oak to a height of four feet, above wil be handsome fresco work. The prose wul have a curtain 34 feet in width by 45 in and will extend 15 feet outside the curtain adornments are of @ most elaborate charg parquet will contain 350 orchestra ¢! balcony will seat 350 and the dress circie 65 seating capacity will be 1,500. ‘Ihe stage 13 feet in width by 45 in depth. The scenes 18x24 feet. In accoustic, ventilation and essential properties the new theatre, it rs will be @ periect success. Besides the m: there are two stage doors, and three Fiood’s alley, which will enapie the aud make an exit, without crowding, in three & It will be opened to the public on the 1st next, BROOKLYN'S DIRTY COURT H3 Kings county boasts one of the nandsor houses, externally, in the State, but a cl tion of the invertor will not enable it to =p ter” for either cleanliness or repair, This long been patntully apparent. It may be spirit of economy (’) with which the “Supe: Large” was animated when he vetoed tion to pay the bill of the “poor fellow who pains to Low a dead body, which was found in,the river, ashore” (said bill amounting dollars) bas been the check put upon ail @ expeuditurestor county cleanliness, and failure of the apartments within the whi walls of that structure to be cared for, it is that the floors are not samples of ole; ing and that the scrubbing brush ts nos above imumate with the paintwork or Furnitare in s ‘al of the rooms, especial! 11, is broken, never, it would,appear, w be Desks are demolished and the contents of ers carried off. The heavy door of in question, immediatety the entrance to the County Court) has been ruthlessly wrenched from 1 hinges, and in. that condition It permitted to remain by the keeper for past, in! eptlug the passage way. It well if the Committee on Coart How: Board of Supervisors, which, it was valu the Legisiature would abolish as a u would institute @ thorough investigation condition of the building upon which their sary presence ts imposed, with @ view to ing the best means of procedure tn eifeci manent remedy of the cause of compialut above. A FATAL FALL. A Poor Old Pedler Woman Fal Stairs. About noon yesterday a poorly clad about fifty years of age, called at the resk Charles street, Brooklya, where she off for sale. On gojng down stairs she acctil Gown one fight, and sustained injuries sulted in death a few hours after par Stagg street station, She was attended clan previous to her death. Fe ahs the police that her name was Susan place of residence was nod ascertained, was sent lo Parser’s, Union avenu aad. street. AUNIGPAL AFFAIRS, ‘The Board of Aldermen met yesterday with the President, Alderman Coman, A resolution was adopted that 1% be select committee of three to submit. for the better regulation of hackney rages and cabs, &c. The President buch. committee Aldermen Jerot Mitchejl. A resoluuion Was ado to Belgian pavement seventieth street, rifth avenue. A ijarge amount of routine business waa transacted, Board adjourme. util Taursde~