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Part III. — Seventh Annual Report 



the Scotch system is inferior to the Dutch. ' A dealer in the interior 

 * buying Crown mattie herrings of Scotch origin knows just as little what 

 1 size of herrings he gets as a dealer buying Scotch Crownfull branded 

 ' herrings ; whilst buying Dutch herrings he knows exactly' what he is 

 getting for his money. Whether this defective assortment depends 

 upon an actual deterioration in comparison with former years or only in 

 the sense that it is inferior to the assortment of the Dutch and Norwegian 

 herrings now brought into the market does not signify ; for the Scotch 

 herrings have now to compete keenly with these foreign fish. The 

 figures in Table I. giving the exports of 'mixed' herrings, that is, herrings 

 of different sizes and quality, show a great decrease compared with other 

 brands ; this supports the view that the requirements of the markets are 

 becoming more exacting. The figures given on page 160 show very clearly 

 that Scotch herring-curers during the past few years have not been using 

 the brand to the same extent as formerly ; and this seems to indicate that 

 its value as a special guarantee has diminished. At the same time there is 

 no doubt that the recent decline in the amounts of herrings exported from 

 Scotlandis to alarge extent due to the glutting of the markets in 1883, 1884, 

 and 1885 with small-sized and inferior fish. Table I. (p. 159), shows that 

 the export of matties in these years was excessive, a circumstance which was 

 pointed out by Professor Ewart two years ago as due mainly to the use of 

 small-meshed nets, the earlier commencement of the fishing, and the greater 

 prevalence of surface-net-fishing. It is self-evident that by thus flooding the 

 market with inferior fish, serious loss is occasioned. This is shown by 

 the record for last year (Table I.), when although 184,552 fewer barrels 

 were cured than in 1887, the value of the cured herring was £132,076 

 greater ; a slight increase having occurred in Crownfulls, and a very large 

 decrease in matties. 



In a long established and extensive system like that embracing the 

 export trade in Scottish herrings, there is risk of methods and practices 

 becoming stereotyped, and conditions which in the past may have suited 

 the markets becoming ineffective now to keep a firm hold on them. The 

 Continental nations competing with us are nearer the great markets, and 

 more ready to adapt themselves to their requirements. The superior 

 excellence of the Scottish herring is very generally admitted, and there 

 can be little doubt that the reason that the Norwegian and Dutch herrings 

 are now being largely preferred is chiefly owing to their better assortment 

 and packing. Scotch curers seem to place too much reliance upon the 

 superior reputation of their herrings per se. It also appears from the 

 Consular Reports that in many countries herrings packed in special ways, 

 such as in small kegs, &c, meet with a ready sale, while those packed in 

 any other way can scarcely be sold ; it may be worthy of consideration 

 whether some latitude in this respect might not be introduced in the 

 Scotch system. 



It seems obvious from what has been stated above, that if the Scottish- 

 cured herrings are to maintain their hold on the Continental markets, 

 much greater care will require to be taken in the selection of the fish, 

 and their assortment into sizes and qualities than is now the case. 



It may be said that the onus of providing a remedy in this respect 

 lies mainly on the curers themselves, since they are the persons chiefly 

 concerned. But the gravamen of the complaint is that the official brand 

 of the Fishery Board for Scotland is untrustworthy, and does not always 

 represent what it should represent ; it is obvious, therefore, that steps 

 should be taken to inquire into the matter and remedy it. A study of the 

 Consular Reports leaves the strong impression on the mind, that before 

 any new measures of an administrative nature are resorted to, it would be 



