14 THE FISHING INDUSTRY 



averaged over a million tons. It was worth about 

 fifteen million pounds when landed, and may be valued 

 at nearly fifty million pounds by the time it reached 

 the consumers. Of all this splendid food that is obtained 

 at our very doors by our own people, less than half is 

 retained for consumption in this country. Out of 

 600,000 tons of herrings landed annually in this country 

 before the war, over 500,000 were exported, chiefly to 

 European countries. Herrings have a high food value, 

 and contain a large amount of easily digested fat, and 

 if all the herrings landed in this country were consumed 

 at home, it would only allow two herrings a week to 

 each adult individual in all the population. An 

 increased home consumption of fish, would effect a 

 corresponding saving in imported meat. 



Owing to this remarkably small home demand for 

 fish, the fisherman has had to depend upon foreign mar- 

 kets, chiefly Germany, Poland, Russia and the Levant. 

 The present adverse rate of exchange with these 

 countries, and the increased cost of fishing operations, 

 make it impossible for the foreign importer to take our 

 fish, except on terms which our fishermen cannot consider. 

 These markets are therefore closed, and unless other 

 outlets are found for its produce, the industry will be 

 threatened with ruin. 



In 1920, the Government guaranteed the cure of 

 herrings up to 880,000 barrels ; unfortunately, they 

 were only able to dispose of them in European markets 

 at a great loss. The Government, therefore, have 

 decided this year (1921) to withdraw their guarantee. 



It would seem that, in view of the present failure of 

 the foreign markets, vigorous steps should be taken to 

 encourage the consumption of fish in this country, and 

 so preserve this valuable industry from ruin. A national 

 scheme of development should be inaugurated, having 



