of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 



291 



barrels then in store only about one- third was sold. Several of the 

 buyers wished me to impress upon the curers the necessity of having the 

 long-gut removed from these early caught herrings, even at greater cost 

 per barrel. As the season advanced there was a marked improvement 

 in the quality of the herrings imported. The imports are nearly all 

 exposed for sale ex ship. Owing to the limited accommodation they 

 are often placed two and three tiers high on the piers. On one occasion 

 I estimated that 7000 barrels were exposed, on the piers, to a broiling 

 sun. In many cases they were covered with matting and watered down. 

 As opportunity offered they were, however, removed to store. Almost 

 without exception the storage accommodation was excellent. On several 

 occasions from 40 to 50 persons, including importers, managers, <fec, 

 attended the sales. 



At this stage several thousand barrels of Norwegian vaar herrings 

 had arrived. I learned, from one of the Haugesund herring exporters 

 whom I met that there were from 12,000 to 13,000 barrels still to ship. 

 These herrings have a dry and scaleless appearance. They do not 

 interfere much with the sale of Scottish-cured herrings. In the head ends 

 they were neatly made up, in close imitation of the Scottish method, but 

 in the bottom ends they were laid flat. They were cured chiefly in March 

 last, but were only then being exported. Norwegian holders do not 

 consign these ; they are mostly sold c.i.f. to agents, price 15 to 16 marks 

 per barrel. Owing probably to the shortage in the catch on the East 

 Coast the price of these herrings, later in the season, advanced 2 to 3 

 marks per barrel. One of the importers bought these herrings by 

 weight, but this is not a customary method of purchase. In visiting the 

 stores I noticed one of the firms repacking these in Scottish-made second- 

 hand half-barrels. 



Small parcels of Iceland-cured herrings were now on the market. 

 These herrings were of a large size, running from 350 to 400 to a 

 barrel. They were fat and oily and did not appear to be in favour. 

 They were purchased chiefly for smoking purposes ; but I was informed 

 that under this process they lose the fat and become dry and unpalatable. 



Later in the season I again visited this port and found that, 

 notwithstanding increased imports from Scotland, Holland, and Germany, 

 and of fat herrings from Norway, prices had risen considerably. Crown 

 brands were from 5 to 10 marks per barrel higher than at the same date 

 last year. Unbranded herrings, of average cure, sold at from 3 to 5 marks 

 per barrel less than those branded. With regard to Norwegian fat 

 herrings, they are, in size, not unlike Loch Broom and Inverness 

 herrings. On this occasion I was invited by several of the importers to 

 visit their stores, one of whom was anxious to show me both his good 

 and his inferior herrings. The early Shetland and East Coast herrings, to 

 which I have already referred, had not improved. The bellies of the 

 fish of several samples I saw consisted only of bones. In some cases, 

 when the ends were removed, it was difficult to recognise what was in 

 the barrels. Several samples were in a state of putrefaction. On the 

 other hand, a number I saw, although oily and torn, were saved owing 

 to there being some salt in the barrels. I was informed that several 

 parcels of these early herrings had been returned to the East Coast, as 

 curers had affected not to understand what had gone wrong with them. 

 These early caught herrings had no effect whatever upon the market ; 

 they were entirely neglected. Until the cool weather set in nothing 

 could be done in the way of despatching them to the interior. The hot 

 weather has had a most damaging effect upon deck cargoes of early 

 caught herrings. In one case the receivers came upon the owners^ of 

 lihe vessel, who had to pay .£150 as damages. 



One of the importers asked me to have a look at a parcel of Crown 

 V 



