CHKONOLOGICAL HISTORY OF THE HERRING-FISHERY. 271 



making it about 15s. sterling per barrel, which is nearly the 

 price of the fish in Scotland, and therefore a prohibition. 



" Russia makes a difference in the tariff between Scotch 

 and Norwegian Herrings ; the former paying an import 

 duty of 1 ruble 30 cops, silver, per barrel, or equal to 

 about 4s. 6d. sterling per barrel, whilst Norwegian her- 

 rings are only charged 35 cops, silver, or equal to about 

 Is. 3d. sterling per barrel. The duty in Poland was 

 formerly lower on Scotch herrings, but has been raised 

 to that of Kussia since the first of January 1851, and the 

 Scotch trade has lost by that means a good market. 



" For France, the duty is said to be 37s. to 40s. sterling 

 per barrel, or more than double the price of the fish in 

 Scotland. 



" The Belgian duty ranges from 12s. to 15s. sterling per 

 barrel,* and in Naples it is almost as high. 



" From Spain and Portugal Scotch herrings are alto- 

 gether excluded, if I am rightly informed. The transit 

 duty on herrings in Russia is 10 silver groschen, or equal 

 to about Is. sterling per barrel on the river Oder, as well as 

 Vistula, and on the river Elbe it is only 2Jd. per barrel. 



" Holland charges about 3s. sterling per barrel for the 

 transit of herrings on the Rhine. 



" Denmarh levies a duty of 3d. sterling per barrel on 

 herrings for passing the Sound ; and 



" Hanover charges one-halfpenny per barrel for passing 

 the Elbe at Stade.f 



" In conclusion, I beg to remark that I consider it would 

 be a great benefit to the trade if the number of days which 

 Scotch herrings must be in salt before the ofiicial brand can 

 be affixed were reduced from fifteen to ten clear days, by 

 which the shipments of branded fish would be facilitated, 

 * Now considerably reduced. f Now abolished. 



