194 REPORT— 1860. 



the protection of the fishermen and the merchants that the system of inspection by 

 the Fishery Officers be continued to preserve order among the fishermen during the 

 fishing season, to prevent the fishermen u?ing illegal nets, and to prevent the 

 fishermen being defrauded by illegal measures; and more particularly as the 

 merchant buys perhaps several thousand barrels at a time, that the necessity of 

 opening the barrels and seeing the herrings may be avoided ; and the various onerous 

 duties of the officers he thus enumerates : — 



" 1. They are the police of the fishery, who maintain and have the power to en- 

 force order. Much fraud and disorder existed before the officers were appointed ; 

 at present such cannot exist without being repressed. [This may be said to be the 

 only constabulary force paid out of the national funds in Scotland, and costs only 

 £14,000 per annum. The constabulary force in Ireland, paid out of the national 

 funds, costs £050,000 per annum.] 



" 2. They protect the fishermen in this way, — the measure or cran by which they 

 are paid for their fish must be of legal size and branded. Formerly it was often 

 made too large, and the fishermen were defrauded. 



" 3. They prevent the meshes or squares of the net from being made below the 

 proper size, which, if so made, would take the young and inferior herring. 



" 4. They see that the fishermen do not fish during the day and on Sunday. 

 In a paper I read at the Literary Institute the other day, I proved that three im- 

 portant fisheries were annihilated by this practice of fishing during the day. 



"5. They prevent, as far as they are authorized by law, the destruction of the 

 fry and spawn, which would diminish or annihilate the herrings. 



"6. They point out to the tjTO fish-curer the mode of cure. 



" 7. They see where the fishing localities rise into importance, so that they can 

 point out where creeks may be improved, by forming fishing harbours and shelter 

 for the fishermen. 



"8. They see that the herrings are cured within twenty-four hours after being 

 caught. 



" 9. They see that the different kinds of herrings are properly separated .and 

 packed in different barrels. 



" 10. They see that they are properly gutted. 



"11. They see that a sufficient quantity of salt is put into the barrels with the 

 herrings. 



" 12. They see that they are properly packed in the barrels. 



" 13. They see that they are, after ten days, properly filled up with a sufficiency 

 of herrings and pickle. 



" 14. They see that the barrels are of the proper legal size. 



" 15. They see that the barrels are of the requisite materials and strength, which 

 they formerly were not. 



" 16. They see that no branded barrel is used a second time to cover inferior 

 fish. 



" 17. And when all the requirements are attended to, they apply the brands to 

 the various descriptions of herrings as they have been assorted. There are several 

 brands applicable to the different kinds — the highest being the crown brand and the 

 word ' full.' The applying the crown brand is a proof of the officer having watched 

 the progress of the cure. It is, in short, the mere Finis coronal opus — the opus, or 

 work, has been going on since the herrings were fished, and the crown proves that 

 the herrings are merchantable; but the various operations require careful attention 

 during the whole year." 



On some suggested Schemes of Taxation, and the Difficulties of the.n, 



By \V. Newaiauch. 



Hints on the best Plan of Cottage for Agricultural Labourers. 

 By Henry John Ker Porter, M.R.I. A. 



The present condition of the dwellings of farm labourers requires, I believe, with 

 some exceptions, improvement no less than the abodes of the labouring classes in 

 large towns. The drainage and ventilation are generally admitted to be imperfect ; 

 but the evil of too much cold air is severely felt in some districts with which 1 am 



