34 



Thirty-ninth Annual Report 



CHAPTER VI. 



DEVELOPMENT. 



Overseas Markets. 



With a view to eliciting information which might lead to an 

 extension of the market for Scottish cured herrings, the Board, 

 as stated in their last Keport, prepared a questionnaire which 

 through the good offices of the Department of Overseas Trade was 

 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. 



This step was primarily dictated by the urgent necessity for 

 rinding new outlets for pickled herrings as an alternative to the Con- 

 tinental markets, which were formerly the mainstay of the trade, but 

 with which it is now difficult to do business owing to the unsettled 

 condition of their finances and internal economy. 



In all 37 reports were obtained, and they were made available as 

 received to individuals and firms of British nationality through the 

 agency of the Board's officers. 



Unfortunately the majority of the reports were not of a very 

 encouraging nature, but fair prospects of developing trade were stated 

 to exist in the following places : — 



Europe - - Salonika, Bulgaria. 



Asia - Shanghai, Dairen. 



Africa - - Egypt. 



North America - Ontario and Quebec and Western Canada. 



West Indies - Trinidad and Barbados. 



South America - British Guiana. 



Although an exploration of the possible markets for cured white 

 fish was not such a clamant necessity as in the case of cured herrings, 

 a similar series of reports, collected from a variety of sources, was 

 obtained dealing with market conditions in countries which consume 

 dried salted cod and other white fish, and these reports, 12 in number, 

 were also issued to the Board's officers for reference by those 

 interested. 



The world's markets for dried salted fish were flooded by stocks 

 from Norway and Newfoundland, and in consequence the only 

 countries offering fair prospects for British stocks were Spain, Brazil 

 and Argentina, in which countries a demand exists for the best 

 quality of cure. 



The disorganised state of the international exchanges and the 

 high transport charges current unfortunately made it difficult for any 

 immediate advantage to be taken of the opportunities indicated in 

 the reports, but the information will prove useful as soon as the 

 establishment of new trade relations becomes practicable. 



Disposal of Admiralty Drifters to Ex-service Fishermen. 



As finally sanctioned by H.M. Treasury, the scheme for the dis- 

 posal of surplus Admiralty drifters to ex-service fishermen, the 



