xviii 



Thirty -eighth Annual Beport 



the vessels allotted to them. This scheme had not been formally 

 sanctioned at the close of the year, the question of the values to be 

 placed upon the vessels not having been finally decided, but pending 

 that decision a number of drifters were hired, as a temporary measure, 

 to ex-service fishermen for employment in the ensuing West Coast 

 winter herring fishing. 



Eel Fishery Development. 



An account of experiments which were carried out during the year 

 in order to ascertain the possibilities of developing eel fishing in Scottish 

 rivers will be found in the report of the Inspector of Salmon Fisheries 

 (p. 67). Unfortunately these experiments were not attended with the 

 successful results which had been anticipated. 



Overseas Markets for Herrings. 



Among the suggestions made in the Memorandum on Post-War 

 Problems, pubhshed as an Appendix to the Board's last Report, 

 was the desirabihty of extending the markets for cured herrings abroad. 

 The need for such development was further emphasised last year by the 

 great difficulties experienced by the industry owing to its practical 

 dependance on the German and Russian markets. Through the 

 good offices of the Department of Overseas Trade a questionnaire 

 prepared by the Foard has now been put before the representatives of 

 that Department in the principal countries in the south of Europe, 

 in Asia, in Africa, and in North and South America, which, it is hoped, 

 will be successful in eliciting information which may lead to a widen- 

 ing and stabilising of the demand for Scottish cured herrings. The 

 points on which information has been sought are as follow : — 



1. Extent of existing trade in cured herrings, if any. 



2. Sources from which herrings are at present obtained. 



3. Prospects of extending existing trade and suggestions as to 

 best methods of doing so. 



4. Prices per barrel, etc., realised. 



5. Where no trade at present exists, prospects of creating one. 



6. Most suitable size and type of package. 



7. Weights and measures adopted and their British equivalents. 



8. Import Duties. 



9. Most suitable means of transport and ocean transport facihties, 

 and whether refrigerating plant installed in steamers or at landing 

 ports. 



10. Method of cure, e.g. pickled in brine, canned, smoked, etc. 

 (bloaters, red herrings), most hkely to be in demand. 



Grants for Civil Liabilities. 



The administration of the scheme of Government grants to enable 

 men, who find themselves in straitened financial circumstances as a 

 result of their service in H.M. forces during the war, to resume their 

 civil occupation is entrusted to the Mihtary Service (Civil Liabilities) 

 Department, but by an arrangement made at the request of that 



