196 STATISTICS OF THE FISHEEY. 



hurry with which they are unloaded to get the fish into the 

 curing stations as soon as possible after they are caught^-the 

 number of mixed hands then put upon them to gut and pack, 

 and the rapidity with which that work has to be done, it speaks 

 well for the existing organisation of the fisheries of Scotland 

 that • 54 per cent of the total cure, or more than one half, 

 should have reached the high standard required by the Board." 

 Another feature which is brought out by the Commissioners in 

 connection with the brand is, that the quantity branded this 

 year bears an unusual proportion to the quantity exported, which 

 was 549,631 barrels; showing that only 126,900 barrels were 

 exported which were not branded, a number which, though it 

 may seem considerable, is small when analysed ; for it includes 

 ungutted fish, also the export to Ireland, which consists for the 

 most part of fish not originally selected for first-class cure ; also 

 the greater part of the fish from the early herring fishery of the 

 Hebrides prepared for immediate saie. In short, the quantity 

 exported is 71 per cent of the quantity cured, and the quantity 

 branded is 77 per cent of the quantity exported, thus showing 

 that more than threo'-fourths of the export trade eonsists of 

 branded herrings. , The highest years of branding previous to 

 1§72 were the years 1820, 1862, and 1871. The branding 

 in these years was : — ^In 1820, 363,872 barrels ; in 1862, 

 346,712 barrels; in 1871, 346i66.3 barrels; in 1872, 422,731 

 barrels. The branding of 1872 has therefore exceeded the 

 branding of 1820 by 58,859 barrels,, equal to 16 per cent of 

 increase, and has exceeded the branding of 1862 by 76,019 

 barrels, and of 1871 by 76,098 barrels, equal in each of these 

 years to 22 per cent of increase. In this comparison it is to be 

 remarked further, that the year 1820 includes brandings at 

 stations in England, and that the brand was given at that time 

 not only without the charge of a fee, but with a bounty upon it 

 paid by the Government ; a bounty which amounted* for the 

 year 1820 to upwards of £72,000. It is therefore remarkable 

 to see Scotland alone, without England, and without the stimu- 

 lus of a bounty, relieving Government by an annual payment 

 which could reach in a year £72,000, and substituting instead 

 a return from branding which has already paid to Government 

 upwards of £63,000, and which yielded as its collection in 1872 

 the sum of £7045 : 10 : 6. 



An improved order of fishing boat has of late come promi- 

 nently into use in the Scottish herring-fishery. Decked boats 



