260 CHRONOLOGICAL HISTORY OF THE HERRING-FISHERY. 



her Majesty's Government in influencing other States to 

 reduce their import duties on this article of commerce. 



" 2. As to the home herring trade, inchiding Ireland. 

 — That the unbranded trade, which includes the ungutted 

 herrings, and consequently a large and increasing number 

 of white herrings, subsequently made into red herrings, 

 has increased very largely ; whereas the branded trade in 

 the home market has diminished, and is of little im- 

 portance. 



" After giving my best attention to the facts and con- 

 siderations which I have above set forth on both sides of 

 this question, I deem it my duty to state, that if the 

 question of continuing the brand related only to the home 

 trade in white herrings, there appears to me not to be 

 adequate grounds for supporting it ; but, as respects the 

 foreign trade, which is sufficiently large to be an object of 

 the highest importance to Scotland, the branding system 

 forms so essential a part of its arrangements, its abandon- 

 ment might cause such derangement and contraction of 

 that trade, and consequent loss and inconvenience to those 

 engaged in it, and to the large bodies of the working 

 classes employed, not only in fishing, but in the various 

 operations of curing for the European market, that I feel 

 compelled, notwithstanding the objection in principle to 

 which it is liable, to recommend that it should still be 

 maintained, and, as a necessary consequence, that the 

 establishment of the East Coast Fishery officers should be 

 continued. 



"I am disposed to think, however, that it may be 

 worthy of consideration, whether it may not be advisable 

 to charge a small fee or duty upon the branding of each 

 barrel. This would throw a portion of the expense of the 

 establishment upon those who immediately benefit by it, 



