of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 



293 



market. Dealers are not inclined to give 70 to 80 marks per barrel for 

 these. They prefer to wait for cheaper herrings. For mat-fulls, matties, 

 spents, and tornbellies there is always a good demand. The best Crown 

 brands are a luxury in the neighbourhood. They are nearly all bought 

 up for Russia. At the date of my visit there were from 27,000 to 

 30,000 barrels lying in store. Owing to hot weather stocks had 

 accumulated in store. Previous to my visit the herrings forwarded to 

 South-West Russia arrived there in an entirely burnt condition. The 

 unsettled state of Russia had a very unfavourable effect upon the 

 herring trade of this port. Herring importers had to exercise the 

 greatest caution with buyers, as the revolution has had the effect of 

 making them dilatory in their payments. The markets reached from 

 here are in South-West Russia, and as far east as Moscow, Galicia, 

 Poland, and also Eastern Pomerania. Two-thirds of the quantity in 

 store were for Russia. Through the energy and business ability of one 

 of the firms the import of Scottish-cured herrings has within recent 

 years considerably increased. The method of sale and inspection is 

 slightly different from that at Hamburg or Stettin. At both these 

 places the imports are chiefly inspected on the piers. Here, on the 

 arrival of a cargo of herrings, it is taken to the importer's yard and invita- 

 tions are sent round to buyers to inspect and make offers. At this 

 date only a few barrels of Crown-branded fulls, mat-fulls, and matties, 

 had arrived. At one of the stores I met several Russian Jews having 

 an inspection of these, and all appeared to be pleased with the selection, 

 salting and cure of the different brands. The complaints, so far, by 

 agents and buyers of unbranded herrings were that they were too oily 

 slack filled, and tender in the bellies. From observation, in many cases, 

 these complaints were well founded. 



My second visit to Danzig was in October. It was then estimated 

 that upwards of 70,000 barrels were in store, but of this quantity fully 

 three-fourths had been sold. Besides the importers, there are eight 

 Russian brokers (commissionaries), who buy and leave the herrings in 

 the importer's store until an order is received for their despatch to the 

 interior. 



The early herrings which I saw during my first visit had not 

 improved in store. The remainder of several parcels was being slowly 

 disposed of at from 6 to 10 marks per barrel for animal food stuff. 

 Several of the importers mentioned to me that this had been the worst 

 season they had experienced for many years back as regards complaints. 



Since February last upwards of 6000 barrels of Norwegian vaar 

 herrings had been imported to this market. The price paid some months 

 ago was 20 marks per barrel. 



About 300 barrels of Iceland-cured herrings had been imported. 

 Great difficulty, I understand, is being experienced in disposing of 

 them. They are too large and oily for this market. Samples had been 

 despatched to the interior of Russia, but up to the date of my departure 

 no word had been received of them. 



KbNIGSBERG. 



From Danzig I proceeded to Konigsberg. Here I found the imports 

 of Scottish -cured herrings 56,000 barrels in excess of the figures at the 

 corresponding period of last year. During the week of my visit five 

 steamers had arrived from Shetland, Orkney and the East Coast, with a 

 total of 19,000 barrels. Of the season's imports 70,000 to 80,000 

 barrels were in store, fully two-thirds of which were sold. The great 

 herring stores for Russia are at this port. Storage accommodation is 

 most extensive, and I may add that these stores are large, costly 



