CHRONOLOGICAL HISTORY OF THE HERRING-FISHERY. 325 



markets often exhibit slovenliness and ignorance on the 

 part of the authorities, and particularly in those of the 

 capitals — Edinburgh, London, and Dublin. 



" When at Paris, I represented to Her Majesty's Pleni- 

 potentiary, Mr Cobden, and the other two commissioners 

 verbally, the advantages to be gained not only by this 

 country, but by the French, who, particularly the manu- 

 facturing population in the large towns in France, would 

 gain by being able, generally at all times, Avhen butcher- 

 meat is scarce, to obtain such fish of superior quality as this 

 country can furnish, were the duties of importation reduced. 



" As already said, although fish is not specified in the 

 Commercial Treaty, I am favoured with a letter, of which 

 the following is a copy, from Her Majesty's Plenipoten- 

 tiary, Mr Cobden, by which we are now informed that the 

 duty on the importation of all sea fish has been greatly 

 reduced, with the exception of the duty on cod fish : — 



" ' Paris, lUh November 1860. 

 " ' Dear Sir, — The duty on fish, with the exception of. 

 cod, has been fixed, and will be published with the re- 

 mainder of the tariff, I expect, in a week or two. This 

 question, as you are aware, involves the consideration of 

 the salt-tax in France, for which there is a slight addition 

 to be made to the duty on foreign fish. You will find, 

 however, a considerable reduction on the former rate, and 

 I hope it will lead to a trade to the mutual benefit of both 

 countries. — I remain,' &c,, 



(Signed) '' ' K. Cobden.' 



" The reduction obtained by Mr Cobden is unquestion- 

 ably considerable. As before stated, the duty hitherto 

 has been, on sea fish 48 francs the 100 kilogrammes — 

 about 20s. per cwt. — and it will now be reduced to about 



