238 FISH CULTURE. 



" The Fishery Board was established in 1808 for 

 the inspection and protection. of the herring fishery; 

 and there can be no doubt that the most beneficial 

 results have been produced by its labours. In that 

 year the total amount of the fishery was expressed 

 by 90,185 barrels ; in 1855 it amounted to 897,462 

 barrels. Mr. Mitchell gives the particulars of this 

 extraordinary development in detail, and he attributes 

 it mainly to the protection which the Legislature 

 has afforded to the fishery, and the security which 

 the affixing of Government brands gives to the 

 export trade. 'That there was an abundance of 

 herrings on the Scottish coasts was known for, cen- 

 turies past ; but when considerable quantities of 

 them appeared, they were of little remunerative 

 value when caught, because the demand was limited 

 to the mere local consumption. Before the specific 

 and legalized size and quality of the manufactured 

 article — ^the barrel of well-cured herrings — could be 

 obtained as goods for commercial purposes, a mer- 

 chant abroad could not buy herrings in Scotland, 

 there having been no legal distinct specific form and 

 quality. The curer might say, " My barrels are of 

 every size and various in quality and price ; " but 

 the foreigner could not order or buy such goods, 

 and he therefore bought herrings which were of 



