gard to the importance of our national
fishing interest, and the value of our fishermen's lives, that a
sort of National Society may be instituted which will maintain
those who are unfortunately in want, and help to assuage the
grief and misery of the widows and orphans of those who perish
at sea. I believe it is only necessary to throw out the hint to
see established in this country a National Fishermen's Aid
Society, which shall command the support not only of those
living upon the line of our fishing coast here, but of all
concerned in fishery throughout our dominions."

It thus appears that at the time of the Norwich Exhibition, and much
more after the greater show at South Kensington, the Prince of Wales
had in view the welfare of the fishing folk as well as the benefit of
the fisheries. What is an exhibition--with its display of exhibits, its
prizes, awards, conferences, and its whole visible organisation--compared
with the safety of our fishermen's lives, and the improvement of their
homes? For some departments of this beneficent work there are special
agencies at work--such as the Lifeboat Association, the Deep-Sea
Mission, Sailors' Homes, and Seamen's Hospitals--but the idea of the
Prince was that a great central society, analogous to the Royal
Agricultural Society for the cultivation of the soil, might be
established, attending to all matters bearing on the social and moral,
as well as the material, benefits of the fishing population of these
islands. It is said that the Government has resolved tardily to have a
Department of Agriculture; it is equally needful to have a Department
for all matters connected with the "harvests of the sea."

OPENING OF FISHERIES EXHIBITION.

_May 12th, 1883._

The International Fisheries Exhibition was opened with great ceremony on
the 12th of May, 1883, by the Prince of Wales, "by command of Her
Majesty, and on Her Majesty's behalf." Most of the members of the Royal
Family were present, the Foreign Ambassadors and Ministers, Her
Majesty's Ministers, and other distinguished persons. The Prince was
accompanied by the Princess of Wales, Prince Albert Victor, and Prince
George of Wales. The Duke of Richmond, Chairman of the General
Committee, having read a statement of the object and the contents of the
Exhibition, the Prince replied:--

"My Lord Duke, my Lords, and Gentlemen,--It gives me great
pleasure to open this Internat