1176 REPORT—1 885. 
Year To Ireland To the Continent To places out of Europe 
Barrels Barrels Barrels 
1834 149,000 56,000 67,000 
1859 69,000 203,000 748 
1884 35,000 1,149,000 960 
The abolition of slavery in the West Indies nearly put an end to the exports of 
Scotch herrings to ‘ places out of Europe’; and the potato famine in Ireland led to 
the introduction of Indian corn and a partial change of dietary there, and to a 
wholesale exodus of the herring-eating population. We have now only two 
customers of any importance—Germany and Russia; and it would be more satis- 
factory if we depended less upon one or two foreign markets. The fishermen 
number just 50,000, and possess a capital, in boats, nets and lines, of 1,750,000/. 
Those of the north-eastern coast especially are an industrious, saving, and com- 
paratively wealthy class. Many of them are owners of the houses in which they 
live. They have also substantial sums of money lodged with the banks. Having 
made some inquiry into this matter, he was enabled, through the courtesy of those 
connected with banking administration, to state that of the deposit receipts out- 
standing at twelve branches, in as many of the coast towns, 21 per cent., or more 
than a fifth of the whole number, are held by fishermen. Their accumulation of 
savings is thus very considerable, and it is being added to year by year. He might 
say that one of the branches is almost wholly supported by fishermen. Forty 
years ago the fishermen of Scotland and the Isle of Man numbered 61,000, and 
their property in boats, nets, and lines was estimated as worth 1: million, as com- 
pared with 1} million held by 50,000 Scotch fishermen now. ‘The average value 
for each man and boy employed was then 20/.; it is now 352. So far as the fisher- 
men are concerned, the Scotch herring fishery is a co-operative industry in which 
capitalists and labourers are united in the same persons. The adoption of steam- 
power for fishing vessels would save much inconvenience and loss, but would 
render necessary such an increase in the size ard cost of the vessels as would 
probably. to a large extent destroy the pleasant co-operative system at present in 
vogue. 
The system of engagements between curers and fishermen with its accom- 
paniment of a large prepayment months before the fishing begins and irres- 
pective of the quantity caught, was described, and its evils were pointed out. 
“‘The brand”—a Government certificate of the quantity and quality of the goods 
contained in a barrel of cured herrings—was also briefly discussed. It is liked in 
the trade as facilitating transactions, and being optional and supported by fees, it 
is not oppressive, while the dependence of the industry upon one or two foreign 
markets renders its suppression inexpedient. The great need is access to more 
markets. 
6. On the Pauperisation of Children by the Operation of the * Scotch 
Liducation Act, 1872.’ By Marrunw Bratr. 
The object of this paper was to set forth some of the evils arising from the 
operation of the ‘Scotch Education Act, 1872,’ inasmuch as it compels poor people 
who have never received ‘parochial aid ’ to pauperise their children. 
Section 49 of the Act requires parents who cannot pay for the education of their 
children to apply to the parochial board, that the fees may be paid out of the 
poor fund. 
Section 70 provides that poor parents who cannot pay their children’s fees, and 
refuse to take poor funds for the purpose, must go to prison for fourteen days. 
In the year 1874, the number of the children of non-pauper parents who had 
their fees paid in part or whole from the poor fund was 2,377, while in 1884 the 
