TRANSACTIONS LIVERPOOL BIOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



at least half of the East Coast herring vessels will be laid up 

 during the coming season. Nevertheless, in view of the 

 formidable menace of the rapidly-growing Norwegian and 

 Dutch herring export trade it is hoped that the decision may 

 be reconsidered. A contrast between the commercial policy, 

 in regard to fishery, of this country in 1815 and 1919 would be 

 very interesting did time and space permit one to make the 

 investigation. In 1815, after the reopening of the Continental 

 markets, the Government continued the bounties paid on vessels 

 fitted out for deep-sea fishing, and for herrings, cod and ling 

 cured for export, and it was only in 1830 that these " doles " 

 were completely withdrawn — by which time the export trade 

 had thoroughly been established. In 1921, however, after two 

 years of what has been, in effect, a bounty on the herring fishery, 

 the present Government has withdrawn the support it offered — 

 and this in the face of a formidable Continental competitive 

 trade which did not even exist in 1815. 



The prosperity of the pelagic fisheries depends, then, on 

 an export trade, and it is in this respect that scientific and 

 industrial research come into consideration. The present 

 method of curing herrings — by " gipping " and preservation in 

 strong brine — was invented by a Dutchman in the 14th century, 

 and it is still essentially the same method that is practised in 

 Britain. It can be depended upon to keep herrings good for 

 about a year, perhaps (so that the 1919 pack guaranteed and 

 practically possessed by the Government must now be unsale- 

 able). Just as it is in the chemical trades the method of 

 " mass-production " seems to be a peculiarly British one, which 

 largely excludes the manufacture of commodities in small 

 quantities and prepared in numerous special ways. So while 

 a great variety of herring conserves are prepared abroad British 

 curers only export pickled herrings in large quantities, and but 

 a negligible bulk of canned fish. During 1916 and 1917 a great 

 deal was written and said about the establishment of an export 



