23'6 FISH CULTURE. 



from the 1st of January to the 31st of May, has now 

 been in operation several months, and you all well hnmv 

 with what perfect indifference the Fishery Board has 

 put the law in force. Trawling has gone on to a greater 

 extent than ever. Two of her Majesty's war-steamers 

 are said to he continually in Loch Fyne and the 

 Lochs, but we seldom hear of these vessels being far 

 from Eothesay. The Fishery Board is either unable 

 or unwiUiag to put the Act in force; for I cannot 

 believe but that the two steamers now stationed 

 on the west coast could have put down trawling in a 

 week's time if they had had the commands to do so." 

 Such is the evidence publicly offered by practical 

 men, whose living depends upon the fisheiy. As 

 regards the Board, I should by no means wish to see 

 it done away with, as some of its functions are of 

 a most usefxJ. and valuable nature. For example 

 before a cask of herrings is finally closed, an officer 

 is appointed to examine it, to see that no unfit fish 

 are packed away in it. Having ascertained this, he 

 sees the cask headed, and affixes the Government 

 brand to it ; and so excellent has been the effect of 

 this system, and so great is the reliance placed in 

 that Government brand, that barrels of English 

 herrings, thus marked, are taken without question or 

 hesitation by merchants, even in the uttermost parts 



