OUR SEA FISHEEIES. 241 



object of the highest importance to Scotland,, the 

 branding system formed so essential a part of its 

 arrangements, its abandonment might cause such 

 a derangement and contraction of that trade, and 

 consequent loss and inconvenience to those engaged 

 in it, and to the large bodies of the working classes 

 employed, not only in fishing, but in the various 

 operations of curing for the European market, that 

 he felt compelled, notwithstanding the objection in 

 principle to which it is liable, to recommend that 

 it should still be maintained, and, as a necessarj^ con- 

 sequence, that the establishment of the East Coast 

 fishery officers should be continued.' 



" In spite of this strong expression of opinion by 

 this able commissioner, the question was once more 

 mooted in 1856, and a fresh commission of inquiry 

 was appointed by the House of Commons, this time 

 consisting of Bonamy Price, Esq., E. St. John, Esq. 

 and Capt. Sullivan. The first-named two commis- 

 sioners gave their opinion strongly in favour of the 

 branding system, adducing reasons which appear to 

 us to be of unanswerable cogency ; the third com- 

 missioner dissented, his reasons being, mainly, that 

 it prevented a better system of cure, and that every 

 trade should be ' allowed to stand on its own merits 

 alone.' No attempt, however, was made to show 



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