THE SCOTCH EAST COAST HERRING FISHING. 31 



The brand is an excellent trade-mark, and as such 

 facilitates the buying and selling. This last year (1882) 

 the buying and shipping of herrings was commenced and 

 almost finished within a period of five months. The number 

 of barrels exported is given as 782,2901- =(500 to 600 

 cargoes, and a money value of over ; 1,000,000). These 

 figures give but a vague estimate of the immense business 

 effected in so short a time. Every barrel bearing the 

 " brand " may be bought and sold by local buyers to con- 

 tinental firms on the mere faith of the word " Crown- 

 branded," and that also without any examination whatever 

 as to the contents of the barrel and the quality of the fish. 

 It is therefore plainly to be seen that the brand makes 

 business transactions between the buyer and seller com- 

 paratively easy. As a contrast, I may state that the 

 unbranded herrings are never bought unless subject to 

 inspection before accepting delivery, or failing that, the 

 seller's guarantee as to quality. Opinions as to quality 

 may differ widely, and therefore contracts for unbrands are 

 not only dangerous but difficult in negotiation. Also, in- 

 spection means labour. Labour is money. There is also 

 time lost by seller and buyer. It is clear then that the 

 brand is much to be esteemed, a valuable adjunct, and 

 great facilitator of business, and it is to be hoped that the 

 prestige it has given to the trade may never decline. 



For further and more explicit information concerning the 

 brand I would recommend a perusal of the essay on the 

 herring brand " Fish and Fisheries, 1882." 



BENEFICIAL RESULTS LOCAL TRADE RAILWAYS 

 SHIPPING BANKS FOREIGN TRADE. 



The benefits derived from the Scotch herring fisheries 

 are marvellous in extent and distribution grand in results, 



E 2 



