Fishery Board for Scotland. 
XXV 
IIoopiNa OF Herring Barrels. 
It is now live yefirs since an alteration was made in the regula- Regulations as 
tions for hooping white herring barrt»ls, at the request of a number hen^Tbarr^^^^^ 
of fi3h-curers at some of the principal stations in Scotland, under 
statutory powers subsequently acquired by the Board. Pfiviously 
it was only lawful to hoop such barrels with wooden hoops ; but 
under the new regulations either wooden or iron hoops, or part of 
each, may be used. The reasons for the change were fully given 
in a previous Keport ; but it may here be repeated that there was 
often a difficulty in procuring, at a moderate price, a sufficient 
quantity of wooden hoops to meet the requireu)ents of the trade; 
while an unlimited supply of iron hoops could be obtained at any 
time ; and also that iron-hooped barrels could be made stronger 
and more easily tightened than those hooped with wood. 
As the result of five years' experience, the new regulations for Results satis- 
hooping white herring barrels have given general satisfaction, ^^^tory. 
The method most approved of seems to be hooping partly with iron 
and partly with wooden hoops, it being adopted to a greater extent 
each year. 
During the past year 876,133 white herring barrels were made in Barrels made 
Scotland, and of these 639,750 barrels, or 73 per cent., were hooped j^oj^^V'^^ 
more or Jess with iron and wooden hoops; 235,852 barrels with hooping, 
wooden hoops alone, and only 521 barrels with iron hoops entirely. 
Standard Measures for Fresh Herrings. 
As the result of numerous representations frequently made to Quarter-crau 
the Board, by a large number of tishermen at different parts of the jneasures 
coasts, of the unsatisfactory character of the basket measure used 
in buying and selling fresh herrings in the Scottish Herring 
Fishery, the Board, under the powers conferred on them by the 
Herring Fishery (Scotland) Act, 1889, made regulations in that 
year for the construction and branding of a quarter-cran measure 
for such purpose as asked, which should take one of two forms. 
The chief reason adduced in favour of such regulations being Reason there- 
made was that, in the delivery of herrings, baskets were frequently 
used for measuring them, which, while being represented as of the 
capacity of a qaarter-cran, were of larger size ; and that there was, 
therefore, a great lack of uniformity in this respect. 
The regulations for the construction and branding of such mea- Regulations 
sures, which shall take one of two forms, are as follow : — 
L Basket Measure.— A basket of a circular form, well bound, Quarter-cran 
and composed of willows, pieces of hoopwood, hardwood, and cane, ^^^^^^ 
all of fresh quality, and of suitable size and strength, which shall, 
for convenience in use, have two cane handles, and shall have a 
crown brand on each side. 
II. Box Measure. " An oblong box, constructed of properly Quarter-cran 
seasoned fir or other suitable wood, well bound with iron hoops measure, 
secured by nails, all of suitable size and strength, which shall, for 
convenience in use, have two rope handles, and shall also be crown 
branded. 
