THE HERRING FISHERIES. 11 



urged in favour of the continuance of the brand is that it 

 is convenient for foreign trade. The brand has been in 

 existence for so many years that the buyers in foreign 

 countries have learnt to regard it as a guarantee that 

 they are not being cheated. Barrels bearing the Crown 

 brand are never waiting for a buyer, and they are passed 

 on from hand to hand with nearly as much convenience 

 as paper money. We cannot deny, either, that the system 

 greatly assists the people in their purchases by the rejec- 

 tion of inferior fish. It is best as a rule to choose for 

 ourselves, but there are certain occasions when the judg- 

 ment of a skilled officer is preferable to our own. In 

 the next place, those whom the question most nearly 

 affects are in favour of the continuance of the brand. If 

 those who are most nearly concerned are content to pay 

 the small fee for the brand to the Scotch Fishery Board, 

 it certainly seems unwise and unnecessary to disturb a 

 system that has worked so well. 



We have here, then, a remarkable instance of a system 

 undoubtedly wrong in principle working well in practice. 

 It would seem that our objects have been accomplished by 

 means which are open to question. Nevertheless, although, 

 in the circumstances, we would wish to see this particular 

 system maintained, we strongly disapprove of it for other 

 articles. No fresh system should be started on these 

 principles. It may be urged that a fresh system would 

 become as successful as this has become. We think not. 

 This system was instituted when the fishery was com- 

 paratively undeveloped, and therefore, having grown with 

 it, the system has become, as it were, a part of the fishery. 

 But to start a similar system now, in connection with an 

 article of extensive use, would be a decided mistake. We 

 may depend upon it that the less we have of Government 



