316 CHRONOLOGICAL HISTORY OF THE HERRING-FISHERY. 



"It cannot be said that the abolition of the brand is 

 demanded by public opinion in Scotland. It encounters 

 the active hostility of some portion of the press ; but the 

 opinion of the great majority of the traders is loud in its 

 favour. On the West Coast, which supplies the home 

 markets, and does not use the brand, there is no marked 



demand for its removal We are at a loss for 



a principle on which we could urge the Government 

 to take away from a great trade a convenience which 

 we have shown to be harmless, which will cost the 

 nation nothing, and whose value will be attested by the 

 surest of proofs — the free demand of the traders to 

 purchase it. 



" On all these grounds, we have come to the opinion 

 that the abolition of the brand is inexpedient ; and we 

 beg to recommend to my Lords its continuance, on condi- 

 tion that it shall be self-supporting." 



Other remarks are made in this report as to measures, 

 conventions with foreign powers, police, and trawling, 

 which do not require to be particularly noticed here. 



Captain Sullivan, in his separate report, says : — 



" 1st, As to the effect of the brand on the cure. 



" Its advocates assert that it is owing to the brand alone 

 that the present cure has been reached, and that without 

 it the cure will fall off, as it is the influence of the officers 

 over all persons employed that keeps up the cure, and not 

 the personal interest of the curer. 



" Its opponents, on the contrary, insist that it prevents 

 a still better cure, as it brings down the price of all 

 branded fish to the level of the lowest quality — that is, just 

 good enough for the brand ; and they assert that the inte- 

 rest of the curer, and his desire to establish a character 

 for his own brand, must at least have as much effect in 



