256 CHRONOLOGICAL HISTORY OF THE HERRING-FISHERY. 



orally examined) represented more than between 40,000 

 and 50,000 barrels. 



" The facts and considerations adduced in the evidence 

 favourable to the continuance of the brand appear to me 

 to support the following propositions : — 



*' That of the branded herrings by far the greater por- 

 tion go to Prussia, and the countries adjacent to the south 

 of the Baltic. 



" That (unless in the early part of the season) few her- 

 rings are sent to these countries except under the sanction 

 of the brand. 



" That a high miuimum of quality and cure is secured 

 under the system of branding, not only by the refusal of 

 the brand when the herrings are not duly prepared and 

 cured, but because during the whole process of preparing 

 and curing (a process so rapid in its operation, and carried 

 on by such large bodies of persons, as to render it very 

 difficult for each separate curer to watch over those whom 

 he employs) the fishery officer circulates amongst those em- 

 ployed, examines from time to time the progress of their 

 operations, points out defects in the cure or selection, and 

 stimulates the negligent by warning them of the possible 

 refusal of the brand. This service performed by the 

 fishery officers many of the fish-curers notice as being 

 particularly useful. 



" That the brand has the full confidence of the mer- 

 chants and consumers in these countries, a fact testified 

 not only by the replies and evidence of the great majority 

 of the fish-curers on the East Coast, and of the fish mer- 

 chants whom I examined, but also by various representa- 

 tions from continental merchants, which will be found 

 in the Appendix, No. 3. 



" That branded herrings are accepted with little exami- 



