36 
“The use of a similar barrel on the Atlantic coast would go 
far towards improving the present condition of the herring trade 
of the East. 
“The salt in use, however, is, I consider, quite against the 
proper curing of Pacific herring. 
“ Trial shipments, I was told, had been made to Australia and 
New York, and in spite of the poor quality of the salt, and some 
defects in the curing process, have met with a very favourable 
reception, especially in Australia. 
“T found there is a demand springing up for Pacific herring in 
China, not cured in pickle, but dry salted in boxes, and I believe 
extensive shipments of herring put up in that way will be made 
this season to that country. 
“While there may not be a great demand for those Pacific 
herring in eastern Canadian or American markets, as there they 
will come into competition with a better class of fish, I believe 
there is a large outlet for them in the western states of America, in 
Australia, the west coast of South America, China and the Straits 
Settlements, if properly attended to. 
“To improve the already fairly effective methods of curing in 
vogue in British Columbia, and as the people there are keenly 
anxious for such improvement, I would suggest that, as the herring 
season on the Pacific only begins after the season on the Atlantic 
has closed, next year three gutting girls and a cooper be sent to 
the Pacific coast, after operations have ceased on the Atlantic coast, 
to give a month’s instruction in herring curing.” 
In his report for 1903, Mr. C. B. Sword, Dominion Inspector of 
Fisheries for British Columbia, notes an item of 3,500 cases of 
canned herring as a new venture, and remarks that there is no good 
reason why the fish put up in that way should not be marketed 
successfully. In 1903, the run of herring was very large. At 
Nanaimo the fish invaded the harbour in such numbers that 
thousands were washed up on the beach, like seaweed, by the waves 
created by passing steamers. 
The herring fishery is increasing rapidly in British Columbia, 
showing a gain of more than forty million pounds in five years, the 
figures being :—1903, 3,620,000 pounds; 1908, 45,146,800 pounds. 
Smoked herring, too, shows an increase of over 25 per cent. Japan- 
ese fishermen have embarked in the herring fishing at Nanaimo in 
recent years, catching and salting large quantities of fish, which are 
exported to Japan. 
