PROTECTION' OF DEEP SEA FISHERIES. 453 



go to the bankers and get an advance on his parcel to 

 enable him to lay out his money again, whereas without 

 the brand he would have to wait for returns. Thomas 

 Davies of Great Yarmouth was the first officer in connection 

 with the fisheries ; he was appointed in the year 1635. A 

 patent was granted to him to seal and gauge all red 

 herrings according to quality, but it was soon cancelled, as 

 it did not prove to be a step in the right direction, and 

 since its abolition the red herring export trade ta the 

 Mediterranean ports has steadily increased to this day, 

 disputes as to quality and cure being almost unknown, 

 because each shipper sends his fish at his own risk, and 

 trusts to his skill in curing to bring him home a good 

 return ; nor are his packages subject to Government 

 regulation, and barrels of all sizes are used ; but he con- 

 signs his fish, knowing that he has no Government arm 

 to lean on, or brand to guarantee the quality of such con- 

 signment ; and the very fact of his knowing that his 

 returns depend solely and entirely on his own skill, keeps 

 him ever watchful and always trying to raise his standard 

 of cure, which consequently raises the standard of cure 

 generally. 



On the contrary, the brand or Government arm, on which 

 so many small curers and fishermen appear to rely, opens 

 a means of conducting the curing with a less watchful eye, 

 and to a great extent must be an inducement to many just 

 to carry on their curing sufficiently well to obtain the 

 Government brand, and no more, as they are then enabled 

 to get their advances from the bankers, and so continue 

 their business. 



And it must not be lost sight of that although the 

 branding officers are undoubtedly men of integrity and 

 skill, still, as there cannot possibly be a uniform standard 



