44 Fisheries of the Gulf of St. Lawrence. 



for stating, that they sold about 40,000 barrels of Crown and Full 

 branded Herrings last year, which were every where received with- 

 out objection. The Inspector found British Herrings at Berlin, 

 Wittemberg, Leipsic, Frankfort, Cologne, and Brussels; and he 

 saw several parcels in transit for more distant parts ; the barrels 

 were all Crown and Full branded, and the Fish were in fine 

 condition, all well meriting the official brand, and much approved by 

 every odc He frequently inquired for Dutch Herrings, and was 

 uniformerly shown British Herrings as Dutch ; and when he stated 

 that they were British, they always insisted that they were Dutch, 

 and they sold them as Dutch. So general is the use of British 

 Herrings on the Continent, that at Embden, where, a few, years 

 ago, fifty vessels were annually fitted out for the Fishery, and a 

 bounty of about £50 paid to each, the number of vessels was 

 reduced to twelve, notwithstanding the continuation of that bounty. 

 The Inspector General learned from the British Consul at Frank- 

 fort, that the navigation of the Rhine to Mayence, or Frankfort, 

 has not been attempted by vessels laden with British Herrings, in 

 consequence of the jealousy of the Dutch, who throw insuperable 

 obstacles in the way. Those Herrings which have been sent 

 thither, were transhipped at Rotterdam, when the charges levied 

 in Holland, proved to be almost prohibitory. But as the prospect 

 has arisen of immediate transport by a Canal connecting the Maine 

 with the Danube, the Catholic countries of Bavaria, Hungary, 

 and Austria, may be expected to afford new markets for our Her- 

 rings, when the navigation of the Rhine may be attempted, or 

 when the Railway from Antwerp to Cologne may be employed." 

 These extracts from official reports of the highest character, 

 show most clearly the increased value which the Dutch mode of 

 curing gives to British Herrings ; while the careful inspection, and 

 the rigid measures adopted to preserve the integrity of the official 

 brand, indicate in the strongest manner, the necessity for a similar 

 inspection in New Brunswick. At present, from the entire absence 

 of both skill and care, one of the most prolific and most valuable 

 Fisheries of the Gulf is rendered of the least value, and there is a 

 complete waste of the bounties of Providence. Herrings are taken 

 in the largest quantities, at a season when they are almost unfit to 

 be eaten, because they are then caught with the greatest ease, and 

 at least expense, and thousands of barrels are found of so little 

 worth, that they are used to manure the land, or are left to rot 

 upon the beaches. 



