of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 



11 



Russia who could speak Russian and was familiar with the conditions 

 under which the trade was carried on. 



The trade in cured herring with America was on the increase before, 

 the outbreak of war, and shows great promise of developing hereafter, 

 and in order to encourage it still further it will probably be necessary 

 to adopt the use of smaller packages. Here again it would also be 

 an advantage to have a Government official visiting the various large 

 centres in Canada and in the United States with a view to developing 

 the trade, while efforts should also be made to introduce cured 

 herrings into China and Japan. 



The largest size of statutory barrel used at present has been 

 found difficult to handle by both men and women workers, and it is 

 suggested that a smaller barrel, say about three-quarters the size of 

 that in use at present, would be a great boon. 



(c) Supply of Raw Material. — It has proved somewhat unfortunate 

 that this country was so entirely dependent on foreign countries for 

 practically the whole of the raw material necessary for the making 

 of barrels and baskets for use in the herring fishery. Wood for 

 staves came principally from Scandinavia, hoops from France, 

 and osiers from Holland, and it is suggested that, in order to 

 make the industry independent of foreign supplies, steps should be 

 taken to encourage the growing of the necessary timber, and that, as 

 regards osiers, the successful experiment conducted on a small scale 

 by the Congested Districts Board in Skye in growing willows for this 

 purpose should be extended and developed, particularly in the High- 

 lands and Islands, and that a factory should be erected at one of the 

 important herring centres in the Moray Firth for the making of the 

 baskets. This would prove of much benefit to those engaged in 

 herring curing operations. 



Steps have already been taken to stimulate interest in osier growing 

 in Scotland among those making and using baskets in large quantities, 

 especially for the carriage of yeast and in the measuring of herrings 

 by the statutory quarter cran measure, and there is every prospect of 

 action being taken in this direction. 



(v) Development of Inshore Fisheries. 



(a) General. — No serious attempt has been made to develop the 

 valuable inshore fisheries which exist along the Scottish coast, par- 

 ticularly on the West Coast and in the Islands. They are undoubtedly 

 deserving of greater attention than has hitherto been bestowed upon 

 them, not only as a source of livelihood to the people but also as 

 a potential nursery for the Navy. It is well known that the 

 lobster and crab fisheries are capable of great development, and 

 that a considerable revenue could be derived from proper exploitation 

 of the different shell fisheries, especially on the West Coast. The 

 lack of piers and the absence of the necessary steamer connection 

 with the mainland have seriously handicapped the development of the 

 industry at the outlying islands and also at those creeks situated at 

 some distance from the rail heads, while the combination of fisherman 

 and crofter has not,"generally speaking, proved successful. 



(b) Proposals for Development. — It is difficult to formulate the lines 

 on which development should proceed on a coast so remote from the 



