68 COMMISSION OF CONSERVATION 



intended for the brand. In short, officers, coopers and packers are 

 told clearly and precisely what to d'o and how to do it. 



In addition to distributing copies of the regulations, 

 Meetings of public meetings were held last winter and spring at 

 pJcShcw'* practically all fishing centres on the Atlantic coast 



from Gaspe to the bay of Fundy, at which I made 

 clear to fishermen and packers the aims and objects of the Act and 

 the manner in which they would have to handle their fish in order to 

 secure the Government brand ; also, of course, the inspecting officers, 

 in their travels over their respective districts, are carrying on an 

 educational work. 



Notwithstanding all this, while -fishermen and packers freely admit 

 that beneficial results will ultimately follow the institution of this 

 system of inspection and branding, it is not anticipated that at the 

 beginning many will be induced to pay the higher price of the regula- 

 tion barrel that is required to secure the brand, unless they have some 

 assurance that they will be repaid for the extra cost. 



^ . The work of persuading fishermen to pack their fish 



of Dealers in accordance with this Act can be most effectively 



Desirable accomplished by the dealers and buyers of the cured 



product; and, as inspection and branding will directly benefit such 

 dealers and buyers, an appeal has been made to them to cooperate with 

 the Department in its efforts to improve the business, by recognizing 

 the better quality of branded fish, and by intimating to shippers and 

 consigners that they are prepared to pay more for branded than for 

 unbranded goods. 



We do not expect to perform a miracle in a year's time by means 

 of the Act; much work of a missionary or educational nature remains 

 to be done. Improvement will come but slowly at first but, with the 

 expansion of knowledge as to the value and utility of the brand, I am 

 perfectly confident that the pickled-fish business under this system 

 will be greatly extended in the near future, and that better prices than 

 have ruled in the past, will be obtained. 



The Act and its provisions have been highly commended, not only 

 by the trade in Canada, but by many of the large importers in the 

 United States who handle Canadian pickled fish. 



A number of barrels bearing the Government brand will be on the 

 market this year, and there can be no doubt that the high standard of 

 these branded fish will so satisfy the buyers, that a greater and more 

 general demand for inspection will take place next year. 



