SALT HERRINGS 47 



executed in 1682 these were perhaps the last 

 persons hanged for witchcraft in England. 

 The blood of these two women was on the 

 head of the author of "Religio Medici" — and 

 only about a handful of herrings. 



Section IV.— General Remarks. 



Vast numbers of British-caught herrings " go 

 foreign " (to use the Yarmouth expression) 

 salted and packed in barrels, salt fish being 

 little, if at all, eaten in Britain. On March 13th, 

 1917, Captain Bathurst, M.P., answering Mr. 

 Watts, M.P., in the House of Commons, stated 

 that the quantity of herrings pickled in brine 

 in Stornoway alone was 75,000 barrels, and, 

 although its export was prohibited, there was 

 no demand in this country for this particular 

 kind of fish, which was very cheap and good 

 food ; he himself had eaten some of these very 

 pickled herrings, and desired nothing better. 



Of the salt itself more will be said ; Professor 

 Hutchinson, some years ago, had a word to 

 say about the connection between unsound 

 salt fish and leprosy, but in these days of ample 

 vegetable supplies we need not think twice 

 about recommending the use of good salt fish 

 for habitual consumption among our fellow 

 countrymen. Sound and well cured, it is as 

 safe as fresh fish, but fish carelessly salted 

 deteriorates easily and quickly becomes un- 

 sound, and is held responsible by some 



I 



