THE BRITISH FISH TRADE. 33 



exception of a small and unimportant portion, they are 

 so inferior in quality when caught that no mode of cure 

 will enable them to compete on equal terms with the 

 Scotch, which appear to have the entire command of the 

 principal German and Polish markets." Since these words 

 were written the brand or " brack," as it is called in Norway, 

 has fallen into disuse ; and the Norwegian herrings now 

 constitute the principal supply, and command the highest 

 prices in the German markets. So plain a lesson, which 

 has not yet been learned by statesmen in England, has not 

 been lost on the Dutch, who, in their turn, have abolished 

 the brand. The striking fact, therefore, remains that 

 this country, which had the distinction of initiating free 

 trade, is the only nation having an important fish trade 

 which still clings to an obsolete and vicious system. The 

 fishery continues to flourish ; but it flourishes in spite of, 

 not in consequence of, the brand. 



It is perhaps necessary to add that the brand affixed to 

 the barrel is supposed to indicate the quality of the fish. 

 The highest brand is awarded to what are technically called 

 crown full herrings, that is large herrings full of roe, care- 

 fully gutted with a knife. The next highest brand is given 

 to crown matties, a " maiden " fish — that is, smaller herrings 

 with minute roes. Shotten herrings, or herrings which have 

 cast their roe, are branded as crown spent ; while herrings 

 of all these qualities, packed in the same barrel, are branded 

 crown mixed. The barrel contains 26|- imperial gallons, 

 or 32 gallons English wine measure. 



It has been already stated that the chief market for 

 Scotch herrings is found in the Protestant States of 

 Germany ; but a large number of herrings cured in a 

 different way are sold in the United Kingdom. These 

 consist of red herrings, kippered herrings, and bloaters. 



D 



