^48 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



The treatment of the herring has not been commendable, and everywhere 

 abroad where it was not rejected or even condemned, as was the case at 

 Hango, where a whole steamboat cargo of 1,400 barrels was condemned 

 and sold at condemnatory auction at 5 cents per barrel, the article has 

 been received with very little encouragement. Through this export the 

 market abroad probably is spoiled for a long time, and a future herring 

 fishery will no doubt suffer great damage from the bad curing in this 

 year. 



The principal cause of the damage was the inferior quality of the her- 

 ring itself, but also to a great extent the exceedingly poor barrels. 



In fact, very little has, as yet, been disposed of, for although large 

 shipments were made to various places, still the quantity really sold is 

 trifling, and the prices obtained have generally been so low as hardly to 

 cover the expenses for salting and for barrels, still less to pay for the her- 

 ring. From $1.50 to $2.25 in Germany and the Baltic provinces for the 

 brand K K, and proportionately more or less for other brands ; about the 

 same price in Finland ; at most, $2.70 in Norrland, and same price in the 

 interior provinces, are the market prices hitherto quoted. It is to be sup- 

 posed that somewhat higher prices may be obtained when the herring 

 get riper. 



The marketing of fresh herring, on the other hand, was both extensive 

 and successful. The freight lists of the railroads are said to display 

 large figures. The herring was sent abroad, too ; whole ship cargoes 

 went to German smokeries. The steamship Strathbey made two trips 

 to Scotland with altogether over 3,000 barrels of fresh herring. Nor- 

 wegian vessels salted and carried home 3,227 barrels during the month 

 of January, and also in February several invoices were shipped to J^or- 

 way. Swedish steamers brought 2,700 barrels of unsalted herring to 

 Christ] ania. 



The conduct of the population gave no cause of complaint ; sobriety 

 and peacefuLaess were everywhere observed. 



Some confusion existed at the beginning on account of the inequalities 

 in measurements, until it was generally agreed to adopt a measure of 5 

 Swedish cubic fe«t as the most convenient standard, being nearest equiva- 

 lent to a Swedish herring-barrel. 



His Majesty's Government has, under date of February 1, this yeax, 

 most graciously granted the application made by the provincial govern- 

 ment of Bohus Lan December 31, 1870, that § 22 of " Kegulations for the 

 fisheries," regarding the meshes and size of herring-nets, shall be sus- 

 pended until further notice in the Lan of Goteborg and Bohus. 



The herring fishery south of Lysekil, in the archipelagoes of Tjorn 

 and Marstrand did not present any features indicating an ingress of 

 sea-herring. During the fall some signs of herring were noticed off 

 Winga, but the quantity of herring actually seen was not larger than 

 usual. The seine-gangs went north and took part in the fishing in the 

 districts of Fjellbacka, &c. 



