264 CHRONOLOGICAL HISTOIIY OF THE HEKRING-FISHERY. 



ing for a long period of years in the development of this 

 branch of national industry, and of expressing my belief, 

 that in the present condition of the poorer classes in Scot- 

 land, the question of the continuance of the Board of 

 Fisheries is not merely to be regarded in reference to 

 measures of economy, — that it is impossible to doubt the 

 social and moral advantages which may and do result to 

 this class of the population from the attention bestowed 

 upon their welfare by a body of eminent persons distin- 

 guished by their rank, position, and knowledge, and who 

 are constantly endeavouring to obtain and disseminate in- 

 formation useful to those employed in the fisheries, to en- 

 courage their enterprise, to stimulate their industry, and 

 to promote their physical and moral welfare. 



" Although sensible of the value of the Fishery Board, 

 and of the advisability of its continuance, I confess that 

 I think considerable reduction and economy might be 

 made in the expenditure under its control without impair- 

 ing its efficiency. I allude especially to the possibility of 

 considerably diminishing the number of the West Coast 

 officers, and gradually discontinuing altogether the officers 

 employed in England ; and also to the making improved 

 and economical arrangements for the naval superintendence 

 of the fisheries, both with regard to the vessels of war and 

 the fishery cutter. Upon these and other points involved 

 in this subject, regarding some of which I desire further 

 information, I shall offer suggestions in a separate Eeport, 

 a course which I venture to adopt to avoid the incon- 

 venience of delaying the expression of my views as to the 

 principal matters in the case, — namely, the continuance 

 of the branding system and the Fishery Board. — I have 

 the honour to be," &c. 



(Signed) " John George Shaw Lefevre." 



