Fishery Board for Scotland. xix 
BRANDING OF HERRINGS. 
During the season of 1889, 475,566 barrels of herrings were pre- Quantity of 
sented to the Board's officers for the various official brands, and, jj^ndal. 
after examination, 455,285^ barrels were branded, and 20,350J 
barrels rejected as not being entitled to the brand. In 1888, out 
of 390,239 J barrels presented, 383,980^ barrels were branded, and 
only 6259 barrels rejected. These figures show an increase in the 
branding of 1889, over the preceding year, of 71,305 barrels. 
Of the number of barrels branded, 144,911 were branded 'Full,' 
221,759 'Maties,' 63,440 'Spent,' and 25,175| 'P,' or 'Mixed' 
brand. The amount of fees received by the Board on account of 
this service was £7588, Is. lOd. 
The herrings taken during 1889, were, on the whole, exceptionally Quality of 
poor in quality, especially the ' Maties,' the catch of which was un- hemn s s - 
usually large. The 'Full' herrings, although fewer than in the . 
previous year, were fully up to the average in quality. A con- 
siderable proportion of the 'Maties' were so immature that it was. 
impossible to cure them up to the standard required for the brand. 
Were it not for this circumstance a much larger number of barrels 
would have received the brand. 
It is almost unnecessary again to mention that the Board deem Branding of 
the branding of herrings one of the most important branches of the portant branch 
service, and that the herrings presented for the Government brands of service, 
should, in every respect, conform to the requirements of the Fishery 
Acts and the regulations of the Board. It was stated in the Board's 
last Keport that it appeared, much to their surprise, that from the Reports there- 
recent reports of Her Majesty's Diplomatic and Consular officers o^oinatki' 
abroad, grave allegations had been made on the Continent as to the and Consular 
trustworthiness of the Government brand', and that, in view of these officers abroad, 
reports, the Board had been inquiring into the whole matter with 
the object of, as far as possible, restoring the prestige of the Scottish 
cured herrings in the Continental markets. During the course of 
that enquiry, several complaints were received from the Continent 
of the bad condition of crown branded herrings which had been 
sent there, and a quantity of these herrings having been returned 
to this country for the purpose of being examined, an examination 
of them was carefully made by Mr James Johnston, a member of 
the Board, and their general and assistant inspectors. In the Deputation 
circumstances of the case, the Board appointed a deputation con- appointeTto 
sisting of Mr James Johnston and Mr William Anderson Smith, visit Con- 
two of their number, to be accompanied by one of the fishery tment - 
officers, to visit certain places on the Continent to enquire into the 
complaints against branded herrings, and also to make enquiry 
on the subject, generally, with a view of enabling the Board to 
deal with certain proposals which had been made for altering the 
classification of cured herrings for the government brand, and of 
raising its character. The deputation presented to the Board a 
jfu.ll report on the whole matter, with a number of recommenda- 
tions, which has been receiving their most careful consideration 
with the intention of taking such steps as will attain the desired 
object. 
