CHRONOLOGICAL HISTORY OF THE HERRING-FISHERY. 263 



as for the brand, although it is iiot applied for unless they 

 are intended for exportation. 



" Moreover, the curer who uses the brand cures his fish 

 together, whether intended to be branded or not ; and the 

 Fishery ojBBcer, from time to time, inspects the process, 

 and endeavours to prevent defects and to promote improve- 

 ments. 



*' In estimating the advantage or disadvantage of the 

 branding system, this indirect effect of it must not be lost 

 sight of. 



" Having arrived at the conviction of the necessity of 

 maintaining at present the system of branding herrings, 

 it appears to me that this would of itself require the con- 

 tinuance of the Fishery Board, independently of the 

 question of the general utility of that establishment. 1 

 conceive that the superintendence of that system, and of 

 the ofi&cers conducting it, could not be better or more 

 satisfactorily exercised than by that Board, which is 

 thoroughly conversant with the subject as respects the 

 Scotch fisheries, to which the branding system is practi- 

 cally limited, and far more conveniently situate than any 

 central Board in London. 



" Had I deemed it right to recommend the abolishing 

 of the system of branding herrings, it would have been 

 my duty to have entered upon the task of weighing the 

 value of the remaining functions of the Board against 

 the expenses of its establishment. Although relieved 

 from this question, yet having had the opportunity of 

 inspecting the correspondence and proceedings of this 

 Board, it would be unjust not to take this opportunity of 

 adverting to the important services which the Commis- 

 sioners, acting themselves gratuitously, and with a mode- 

 rate establishment, have rendered to the public, in assist- 



