of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 



xlix 



He found that a large proportion of the exports from here are sold 

 ex ship and carried into the interior by barges, with a carrying 

 capacity varying from 1000 to 2000 barrels, through the numerous 

 canals and waterways by which North Germany is intersected. In 

 many instances the barrels are transferred direct to the barges, and 

 no care is taken to ensure that they contain the requisite amount 

 of pickle, the result being that many herrings must reach their 

 destination in a poor condition. 



The demand for Scottish-cured herrings was found to be very Demand keen, 

 keen, and prices rose correspondingly, crown-branded herrings 

 realising from 5 to 10 marks per barrel more than at the corre- 

 sponding period in 1905, while unbranded herrings of average cure 

 sold at from 3 to 5 marks per barrel less than those branded. 



The hot weather which prevailed had a very damaging effect on ^ ut weather 

 the deck cargoes of early caught herrings, damages having to be paid Hearings, 

 in one instance by the carriers to the consignees. On one occasion 

 (at Stettin) there were about 7000 barrels exposed on the piers to 

 a broiling sun. In many cases they were protected by matting and 

 watered, and as opportunity offered they were removed to the 

 stores, the accommodation in which was excellent. 



The high price of meat in Germany owing to the operation of Causes for 

 the tariff, and the scarcity of foodstuffs in Russia naturally con- {j^and 

 tributed to the increased demand and the higher prices obtaining. 



The report concludes with some words of excellent practical Advice to 

 advice to curers and exporters of Scottish herrings, and in view of lie1 *' 

 the increasing competition which has to be contended with from 

 Norway, Germany, and Holland, it is to be hoped that the advice 

 will be taken seriously to heart. 



Germany again imported by far the largest quantity of Scottish- q*]*^ p orts 

 cured herrings, but a considerable portion of these pass on to T 

 Russia and Austria for consumption there. The export to German 

 ports amounted to 1,025,886 barrels, or 31,429 barrels less than in 

 1905. The chief ports to which shipments were made were Stettin 

 (316,676 barrels), Konigsberg (305,634), Hamburg (207,687) and 

 Dantzig (194,334), considerable decreases being shown from the 

 figures for 1905 in the cases of Stettin and Hamburg, and large 

 increases in the cases of Konigsberg and Dantzig. From the fact that 

 these latter ports are the main channels for the trade with Russia, 

 it can be reasonably inferred that the increased demand last year 

 was really due to improved trade with that country in cured 

 herrings, and this notwithstanding the high tariff of 13s. a barrel 

 imposed. 



Fully two-thirds of the herrings stored at Konigsberg and 

 Dantzig in the extensive and excellent storage accommodation pro- 

 vided were intended for Russian markets, other countries reached 

 being Galicia, Poland, Eastern Pomerania, Silesia, and Roumania. 



It is interesting to note here that a large quantity of fresh Fresh Her- 

 herrings is now exported to Hamburg for the smoking and £ n Hamburg. ed 

 preserving establishments in the neighbourhood of Hamburg, 

 Altona, and Schluput. The number of such factories within a 

 radius of 30 miles from Hamburg is 56, and up to 12th September 

 last 67,821 half-cran packages of fresh herrings were imported from 

 Scotland alone. 



