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The following diegrams illustrate the method: Les w«rtes, planches, tebleeux. etc.. pauvent Atra filmAs A das taux da rAduction diff Arents. Lorsqua le document est trop grand pour Atra raproduit en un aeul clichA, il est filmA A partir da I'engie supArieur gauche, do geucha A droite. at da haut en bas, •n prenent le nombra d'imagea nAcassoire. Les diegrammas suivants illustrant ie mAthode. 1 2 3 22t 1 2 3 4 5 6 -•U V (•t*"?'' !:>' "■"/ ■,- -."* f" H R E P O 11 T or ^Ir. William fiuiin, of Walkerlon, Ont, anil Mr. M. G. Mcl/od. of Xcw Haven, U APPOINTKII T<) KNgt'lHR INTO THE HERRING FISHING INDUSTRY Of GIIEAT BRITAIN AND HOLLAND. 1 H8<). .•i) OTTAWA: PKIXTKI) .BYJUnoWN CHAMUKKLIN, PRINTER TO THE QUFKWS MOST EXCELLENT MAJESTY. 1889. (;''ItO(i To Hi. M.AY n Tl Report IndtiMti Al Ottaw. 17a. To His Excellency the Jii.jht Jl'nmirable Lord Stmlcy of Preston, P.O., Q.C.B drc itc, d^c, Governor General of Canada, .if., .tt„ dr. ' ' ' May it Pi-eask Your Excellency: The un.ler.signe.l !.»« ,ho honour to prcnent to Yo«r Excolloncy the Special Report ot the delegates appointed in 1889 to en.p.iro into the irorrin.r Fishinir Industry of (Jroat Britain and Hoihtnd. All of which i8 re8pectful!y submitted. Ottawa, Ist J'ehruary, 1890. CIIARLKS^H. TUPPKU, Minister of Marine and Fisheries. t - Ha-IJ Aiicti Burro Hloatt BniitH BrantI Cmuul CaniuM Catch Cln^Hif CloHO > Curing Dutch Encmit Kxport Fishorj Gutting Herring « (( •I (I II II II Importa IriHpectii I isr D K Auction dnlo of Honing \,y fiMlioinu'ii. B Paur VJ, 24 RhitoIh HloH.oiH 7, 27. 28, 2!t, Oft, fi!) BoutH ^""''."^""!!!]!!!!"]"!"!;""! '"*' :]'' J" BruiHl, CluH8iHcatioM m..i iii'*l'HH'li.Vi",!y//;//;i8," 2572«V2K^^ 42, 4.1, 44; 45; 4(i! 48; -)(»; 74; 75 n . CaiiiKliiiti Green Ilfiiinif, equal to Scotch " Jlcriiii^r 1 11(1 list ly ..,*...... " lIoMic (/'oMHiMiiiitiuii .....','. .. " Mcthrnl ofciirin^r, (Nuiiiniitrr V,i"VlVMiWV,f*(V.ii,"m". Canned Ihii-nni; Ciitch in (.'iinada Cla^H•Hcation, liniuA and li^'<\^^iiou'':'Z:i8.'2^'2^^^ ]o' ]{ CioHc season ■*-• ■*'^' '*■*• ^^' '*''■'• •»^'- ■*"'. •'i"'. H 75 cunnK a,,d Halting, modcV.;':;;;;;;;;::::;;v::;::5;«;-:;-i;i;^^^^ ....14 ii'.i, (.'4 ....14 "1^ lH 5, ti, 7, 14 ....17,74 14. l.'i, k; Dutch llon-ing, Hupoi-loi-ity of, D E .♦15, r,Ci RncmioM of Jloirin;; Kx|)ort from Canmhi, .Iccjine in ...■."■■■.■■.■■.■.■.■.*.■. h", 39, 47, 64, 65, 66 61 . 31, 32, 44, 73 29 66 to 82 67, 69,71, 72 67, 74, 75, 76 67 68 68, 69 69 90 71 72,73 72,73 74 93 77 78 78 78 80,81 81 82 82 54, 55. 56 47 61 51, 52, 53, 54, 78 62, 80, 81 LIST OF ILI.XJSTRA.TIO:^rs. SCOTCH HERRING FISHERY. ound for the Iloirinfi' Fishinjr r. .• . Shooting the nots-Sundown. !rZ'.""".'.'.".".". Frontispiece. Making Ilome— Dawn ^^ Gutting Honing ^^ Si Walkerton, 2iid December, 1889. Hon. Charles II. Tupper, Minister of Marine and FiHheries, Ottawa. McLeod'Tn ^w H^' ^"''' *"" ''""'"'" "'' J°'"' ^'"I"^''^ '^^ "^y-^^'f ^"d Mr. M. G. to ScoH^nT^ f ^ n /'''' ""'^'' ^'•'''" '" ^"""^■•' "^ 2'^^'' J'«"« 1««^ to proceed ind Da Hn ". ^""'^"l^'^^'^P^^* ''"'• -1-- '-'- the methods of catci;ing:curing and packing herring in those countries. ^ ever?il'?''' '""!''?' coiisiderable matter, original and extracted, bearing upon its WstorvanZr 1 ^''^- ^^\^^'*""S ^^^^^ -^-try, including sketches' of deliv.rfn/ . "? '' ^'^'^"'^^'""^ on controversies from time to time arising; to nZt . '"'?'''''"'''"PP"'"'*'^ ^^ ^^'" ^''^^^'^ Government at various time a^ornn'^ftr^''. '^"''^^""^ '^''''"^' '^' ^"^j«^'^' "" contributing towards the adoption of the modes at present in vogue in Great Britain of curing, supervising, nspecting and branding herring, after the numerous conflicts th;ouih which the industry has passed, from its infancy up to the present time. «l,o J^' Tu'^'r ^T'''^ '"'^''■'^ ^" *^' '*"""^^'' ^«P«'-* '« due as well to a desire to show what.has been done in the past by Great Britain to build up the herring fishing industry, as to anticipate objections which may be urged against any contemplated improvements m this branch of the fishing industry of Canada. I have the honor to be, Sir, Your obedient servant, WM. GUNN. REPoi^T ON THE JIILST AI'I'IKIVIil) .lll)|)i;!i 01' r.VRIIIMI, ClIUM; AM) I'AI'kl.M; IIOillLMiS, To Tiio Ifoiioriiblo ClIARLKS 11. Tui'l'KK, MiniHtcr of Murine and FIhIioHoh Leith. ]la^bu.•^^ Stettin Iv L ^ ' '""'' ^^''^' A*^"'"'' •-'«". i'^asoiburgh, the ^:^:::C!X':!:::::rtaZ:^^ '^ ^^^'" ^" -*- ^- -•• --i^or ^liBiiiH The following, is a copy of Question No. 4, submitted by .said Committee, n.mely : btate the ditloient manners of cuiinir and pacldi)"- tisl. iiifl wl.nt »,..,. • opinion, improvements in curing and prei^lu-ing migfte made. ^' '" ^"" Answer of — Mayor Fainchaud, of the Magdalen Islands : do bets'" ^Old ?. Y^^' P'""l'f «H- This is because the fishermen do not know how to J. W. Fox, Collector, Magdalen Islands : merchant g,vi„g more encouragomont to the fi»he™anmakTng a ^^^^^^ ss!^:'t».;;iit»rs^'- -Hon. J: Ferguson, Senator, Bathurst : re^olg .t':Zr ',re't'f/TX';r^'r'',.'*f ''" ^'■?'"» ^-eJiutcly after being cured and being .h°„rout ofMlTtZ't. o'tlf^S? i "i'lraSS becomes deteriorated in consequence." $ '^ -^^ '""' nouis iho quality ■■'SI 6 Mr. flHll Mr. Mathews, Msherman, Lititc, N.B. : fn )l.nV*"''"''^"J "<" """■^'^•.'"•>^i^'y «" ••uhKh or l.arroIs,UHinK about halfa busliol of Halt to harrol. I„ (o„r or five dnyH aiVr tl.o Hultin^^ ll.'ov art ro-parkcl in uS KrX a layer ol horrn.KH ai.d thon a layer or nprinklinh' "f -alt boinL nlaco,! fill 1 manv uro placo-i .n t ho barrel an it will boM /about ,bo sam. 4u2i y of Jl beh,« u od ns bolore). The barrel is then Hllod with strong pickle." ^ Mr. Heney, Fisherman, Deer Island: " All lierring cau,irht bore are <-u.:o(l in pickle, cither for packing or ..noking.- Tori/, Gwjsboro', Fisherman : " IniprovcMnont miirht bo made in curin^r fish if proper care was taken, and the h .1 to pass tbrou-h the bands of proper inspectors and cullers I, , ronerlv Collector Tremain, Port Hood: mont' '^j'iArrsl'";",;/;:;;;;.!?' ' •"•'"«■ """ """"'"«■ ' "'■»"• """ "->-'-- Collector Jiui/glcs, West Port : cannott'"P;:rr;cla!S .•'' ''"""' "''' " '"''" ''''''^''''^ «""''^ ''^* ' «*'-''--« *''«>' Collector Ratchford, Parrsboro' : "No established method of curing." Mr. Gordon, ex-Fish Dealer, Pictou : hon,^' w '' ^Y 'V"^™^P•™'■"f'' "^ ^^'^ ^'^^'^ S'^"*''* fishermen to steep the fish for houi-8 ,n water befo>e salting down, and exjjose to the action of the sin duWni the hottest peno.l ot the season, until the water becomes wa.m, under te -erroneous impress.on that they are thus benetited by the extraction of the blood ''"^"^«"« Although pickled bsh may be cureil after the most perfect manner unsuitable rnateruds used for the package will render thorn to a jreat exZ Siriess and ?ftt'S; ;:iiv\";ndl'T-^' ^'■"'•'^ by professed coopers,^uul of the bli matedals' C. C. Fox, Collector, Gaspi Basin : y^hJiitl^}^ "^'f^^^^ ^"*' '^ prepared by the fishermen themselves, you cannot see what the barrel contains; and the system of large advances in vogue in the fishimr districts induces the merchant to take gladly any-thing he can get to help Luidatf his debt, ivithout being particular as to quality." ^ ' ^ nq«it' suit bciii^' iiwod ng or riinokiiig." 18 taken, and tho ■I'x. inii)i()jioi'ly Hliornion to take )W of no improvo- otlierwiso tlioy oop tho fish for sun, duiing tho I' the'ei'i'onoouB 'd. liner, unsuitable t valuelesB, and I best materials, I that cannot be you cannot see e in the fishing ) help liquidate mdant evidence heiiing of the tance of time it u re of the state may have been, f much of the ality. il dealers estab- ne Provinces is h it is exposed It consequently, !8 in, thus per- eterioratiou of t all cases in tl'o fish lnuv!,^.i,,,Va„ uni t '"'1' S"!;"' l'"''"'^' ''''^' -'''<•'' '"'"'••'i years ai,.o hor/in;. barrolH hn 0, „ , ; ,'" /^''"/ .''""' ^V' "HccHainod that Homo wo had a lot.or fVo,„ ,h„ I) ar n . w?^ ^L ,u * "'""'l'. ^''"'■'^■'' '" ^^'""» thoro, hut wo obfaino.1 fro.n !l ' /un f' "\ j l' /j "" "'^' '"'"' ^^"^v'"''" Ha.isf .otory inf.,r,nalio„ ...n..oinin l", ' ' Is u7 i ""T V" ^"'''^' ^^^'"' tho West ('^oast ofSoofland and I a7| c r i. V, , ' ,,'"'""' '■""'"'••""I'"' '^ '^foamor on ports ,nany In.ndrods of tluVso „ ! i ^r 1^, '^ \;r,S.'"',' ' ""''"T"'' ""' '■"""• tho horring trado. Thov wi'iv us d (h v . ' . *" .■'•■"'f^"»^v firms onga«od in insufHoiont, too woak and mt ti I en U ^'V,.^ ;'""'' •»'« having bo.-n found the trado, and llu-i,. uso was (ota ilv. |,a Z;'"! A^n''"!. '",""'' 1""" ""^>'i'"'>l« l'"'- rrovinoo horiin.r (.omnlaihod V, i' ' ^"V"'«'- *""" ". tho cnrii.irof /...wor unnooos..,,. ..uaMfH- Is "iriLi;* tx^i^'z^ 'T::;;3: '^ •";:"""•"•-<' -.d unl)ran.lo.l horringj.ywhicd. thonufntin.!,, r S.^^^^^ '" "'° •'"^" "' ^''O and tho fish rondm.l^(,ui , d .^^ "^ ♦''^" '^'' "'•" «'-'i.-oly destroyed nom.ocd lar-o (Hiantilios ,,f I ,v r. . ^ •■xp^-'ienccd retail dealer pm- ThoKo enquiries'"; S,ethf,"!'''^'''''^^ "^ •^«'"-' H-'ite unfit to lat. ofhorring barrels roael ed woste n > ai^ 1 " ""^V'\rulh:\y small per<-e..tagj fact that the eondition . ' ho h.^,Ti w 1 •' '"/' "''!""' ''•■'^^'' '""' "'^" ^''<' ^'"■tf'er fiHh, rapidly destroying t u' do Z ?,rT .::i'''i ""^■•^ ...terfering with tho sale n-' ,ho This Inls been the casc^. ur as Mi n " t hl''f. '' n" /'VS^' ■*^'"^'^'"" '"'^'•'^'«^-- gentleman fnmi that State hal^n/i ,S^ Z^n s\^ F 1 . "^ 'i prominent ring reaching that State from e ^lrlZi Vf' '.^^''•"^'"•«'' ^J'"f rnmh of the her- Labrador hoPring were put ,". Ind ue '^v^ ?,'' l"' Se,;;'!?'/;" • '"^ir" ^'"^ '^ be a very great demand for them Lot onlv in \f nli^ I , ''«'''"^'. ^''O'*' would ern States ' -^ ''^ Minnesota, but also in the other West- says til '"^^""'■^""' "'^^ '^"'"^^''''"^ '^•^'-•>"«n. writing under date of 17fh May, 1889, than i:^;;5S"oi;r.^ii^ -fr^^^te « "'I barrels. They are made of nom sh tt^ ' 7 «,*^"^: *.'"' ''l'-«« «'"! 25 cents for half much monoy^irt r.tMTir r-ile foi tZ h"n'''^7^'^ poor hoops. There is no thesamopriieasthogoo 1 Nova Scotia of much hetring barrel now '„ Sn tftlS mjKo^^ '^' '''•'^^'''-^ of thS we are? that more careful hLllL.^o,fh^^^ the writer is of the opinion, as arising from the breakage of Sera dstave^^^ would obviate many of the oWls stronger, if that bo found necessary." ^ "'''^' '' ^'^^ P''^'^«g° C'*^" bo made With regard to the excessive use of salt he savs • « Th-if if ;^ „ n i that it roquros a bushel and -, h-,]r n •^, ti^. ^ a "'■"""'^ •«» well-known fact and when more tha,r{l s quantitv s nL thlr "'' T} ^f "^ """^ '^^'■'■^' "^ herrings, «sh-as tho barrel coZ^-'Sd for fxport^i^^lta^^^^^^^^ the weight %f hold this quantity, and no more-an IthntTp. £l. u-^ '" T^^^ "'^^b a view to alleged, to cure t vo or thre^b^r o"s of h A rfn^^^^^^^^^ '" some cases, as weight offish cannot bo in tl e pa kte Foi iTt-an eX or'. ' '"''-^T* *^'^* '^' ^'^ as required by W, will of itseVhol§l,J^i,rSl£rfS^^ 8 . heiTin^r is taken ..ut.onoiigl.MultremainH to euro ono or more barrols the package would bo one-fourth or more filled with Halt, and a« a consequence ?o Id not CntaS t^ho proper quantity of fish, a« by law required ; ho that H?,methin\/,nu"; be wl-o^Ig h. j«!t"i'''7 ''"'"\o^t''« '"•'"•'. «nJ the offenHivo smell ho fVe,iuently complained of by reta.l dealern and connumern, the sjime gentleman nays: " In the flrnt uiace when jn consequence <,f car ennneHH the fish is poorly or only i-Uf washe'l befSr «iH m the blood Htill roma.nmg in the fish will come out aflor .suiting and give the h ne a dark color; and, .n the next place, if the finh is not properly salted or hran smell. Ihis, liowever, can bo soon discovered by fast ng the fish, or bv breakinL' it bi'^riwi'::^!"^'' ''''" •'•*"""'' *"'"'^^ "* '^' bono, and unfit for use B^^ aiTt lis tan be obviated by exorcising proper care in handling the fish in the first place bv washing thoroughly, and afterwanls using the proper quantity of salt in m-d;rtJ euro perfec ly. An oye.- quantity of salt, however, iS not deHinfble, as it ci.ies up On' oln . r^'-'''" '•"'■■'''""'* r^'l'.'''" "^t'^^ herring in a marked degi^e '' ^ .h.„?^^ T\^ herring, in general, this gentleman says: "Certainly every care should be take., to euro the fish properly, and every stop taken in this tUrecUon is audable and worth considering. Could we get our people educated up to a pmpe standard of curing, it would be a great matter. But thiy have a groSeal toCn and It IS almos impossible to get our fishermen to understand thTHveri hope the time IS not far distant when more successful efforts will be made to teach them as there iH no denying the fact that our system of curing fish has been found faulty " Ontalr h t'SeS 1/^*- ^P"' ^^f' ^f"^'" " '"'•^^ ^'>«'^«"»« ''«"«« in we^Htern Untario, that deals extensively in sea hen-ings, the wish and hope are expressed that a s ronger barrel may be introduced, and tha't Labrador and all other he^rringT wiU be properly gutted and cured before packing. uemngs wm From the foregoing, it clearly appears that groat inefficiency imperfection carelessness, and misapprehension stilf obtain in the Maritime Pro^incefas to the curing of herring An5, in the face of the very strenuous oZt' now and for «orae S"ir ' J^fu^- K *^^.'^ "'*^'''"' °^ ^"''"P^ interested in the herringTsS to pu™h the sale of their herrings in all markets, it need not surprise fs to find that our exportation of herrings from Canada has seriously declined^uHng the last three E '' ""'"^ '*"*'"''"* "^ '""P'"'' ^""^ i^S^ 1886. 1887 afid 1888 plainly 9 Ih, the package 11 Kl not contain mimt be wrong complainod of ii'Ht pluce, wlion beforo Halting, ivo the hiino a alted, or has an ■e an offensive by breaking it Biit all tbiu can tirHt place ; by salt in order to as it dries up :ed degree." ily every care is direction is ip to a proper t deal to learn, yet I hope the each them, as uud faulty." ise in western expressed that herrings will imperfection, inces as to the , and for some iheries to push find that our the last three 1 1888 plainly •"""-' -™«. .n. «.™u.^.,, v^^^ „, 1885. ora ARTiri.KM AND CoiNTHIKf TO WHICH KXI'OIITKI). PROVIVCKM WHK.VCK K.XIf)HTKI). THK PlKHircK OK Ca.vaiu. """"*• 'l'"TAI. KvillHTM <'ITHKPK.,.a(K I'HOU^K AN,. V,' OK Canaim tiiiaii'y.J Value. .Not Great Britain . C^uebec Novii Mcdtiii , . , Xfw UniiiHwick United States Ontario (>iiel>('c ' . Nova Hcotia , . New lirnnnwick P. E. iHJantl . . . Newfoundland. Quetec P. E. Island . . . B. VV. Indies , ,(^uel)ec j Nova Scotia . .. . New BruiiHwick . P. E. Island,. ^' '^^- I'"1'e« NovaS D. W. Indies . . r. \V. Indies . . British Guiana Germany ...... Portugal Brazil Madeira Total ... Scotia do do do do do do do Ontario Quebec......; :;| 117^9' Nova Scotia.... I 117,347 New Brunswick. I 22,010 r. ii. island .... I 7 10 Gkner.u. .Statement M' tho Quantity nnd Value of Pickled llvvring, kc.—Continued 1886. Ainrci.KN AND i rilOVINCKH WIIKNCK KXI-OHTKK. ( i(H)|I.H, TIIK I'lldliICK l>K 1 <'.\N.\ll.\. 1 < Quantity. Value. 1 '•""l"<. ToiAI. KXI'OHTM, 'NOTTHK I'hoDICK I'koIiICK A.SIi NOT 1 OK CaN-^LA. I pHODlfK. KxitlKTKI), C^ian'y. Value. Quantity, Value. ,»L';t 8 4 10 1 18,2»i 9,42.3 8 1.975 50,()R5 26,0!NS 32 ; 28,2{MI 78,172 225 4 ! 16 28, .303 78,188 IJemmny 75 V5 22i) Portugal 1(X) 2.30 1 100 oq/> B. W. Imlies .-.5 23,,-)93 8 112 72,392 24 ""225" '572' 55 23,818 8 112 72,904 24 2.3,(ao 12, .501 (!32 72,.528 225 572 23,881 73,100 S. W.Indies 37, W> 150 4.50 12,0.51 37,616 F. W. IndieH l,iV53 032 1,3,53 D. W. Indies 1,08!) 3,272 1,089 2,205 150 3,272 Britigh Guiana 2,205 150 7,5.5!) 413 7,.V)!) 413 1 2,355 7,972 2,.355 7,972 Brazil 5 10 5 10 Newfoundland 1 109 20 4 127 20 1 10!) 121 4 127 Nova Scotia . . . P. E. Island .... Nova Scotia do Quebec 101 . .305 .325 130 151 101 305 231 4.56 St. Pierre Iti .52 10 53 Madeira 10 35 10 35 Totel 801 58,840 i 9, .581 ; 28 ' '.',515 173,r)05 20,533 52 1 4 1R 805 59,221 9,581 129 2,.531 174,527 20,533 357 Nova Scotia .... New Bninswick. P. £. Island.... 375 " ioi' 1,022 '■365' 09,250 202,605 480 1,343 69,730 203,948 u Ac. — Continued. 'ri>TAI. KXI'OHTH, I'milllCK AND NOT i'llODL'CK. General Statement oftho (iiiantity ami Valuo of IMcklol lEon-inK, &c.— Continued. 1887. fimntity. V'lilue, BriM. 113 275 388 440 1,439 I o;«i I i.wo 18,2;«» 50,(»Wi 9,42;» ! 20,0!Hi 8 32 28,;i03 78,188 75 226 100 230 r>5 23,818 8 112 72,904 24 23,881 73,100 12,(m1 37,016 032 1,353 1,089 3,272 2,205 150 7,559 413 2,355 7,972 5 10 1 109 121 4 127 325 231 456 10 5!? 10 35 805 59,221 9,.')81 12i» 2,531 174,527 20,533 a57 09,73(i 203,948 C(H'\THIFH TO Willi II PlIoVINCKM WMKNCK KxildflKII. 1 i it Mil IS, IMK I'lKHilTK OK Canaii.x. ( ililllW, N Pko VM'OllTM, AMI NOT nuK. KXI'OKTKI). Quantity. ' Vain... • iuan'y. Value. liuantity. V'alue. Unit<(l StattH *2u«4H'e BrN. 1 4 .S,305 ■i,x:>\ 72,971 .34,849 8 IKI.OfV) ia5 BrlH. BrJH. 1 1 4 Ontario 1,045 1,413 203 50,(i()l 10,055 1 110 3,805 8,480 202,834 34,982 8 313 09,592 245,010 i,r)43 .9,472 71,135 250,482 17a~.2 12 ^JKNKKA,,S^A»fc^BV..,,th^, ).. ioao. nued. „ AnTh COINTKI K (in I I'liriVIVf.- T'll- J'moi.I.'k ,,K N.)'rTHK'i'.u;,,,,.,,„ J''^'*'' '"'''"•"nTM, (Ireat Urituin. '^ihIh'c I'niMSut... „„„„,., ^ n. w. r,„ii,.H <^llrUc Sinn Scot ill .'.,' N'»'w; llruiiMU'iok, ,1*. K. iHlaiii 'i*M(Imk> ,„ Nova Scotia . . .1 -2nm UiS 4'! New HruiiHwickJ • M '*''},1f ^- ''""'"'' N"va Scotia...., i2,U5n F. W. rndi*.8 j ,,„ D. W. Indies | B. Guiunn I Nowfoundlaiul . St. Picrrt' w..„ a ^- >ova Scotia U- S. of Colombia ; ^^ Portuguese Po88. in Africa do Total. do I*. K. l.-(land. . jOntario, |(^uel)fc Wa Scotia.. .I 75,355 I P. K. Island ... .\ '^yi % % ^''.—Continued, 18 T..T.\t. KxiflHTM, I'Klllil CK AMI tlir rMoiilCic, iuiwuityj Vnlii II .\«IT Iirl«. 17 231) 2r. 7ir 12fl 8, KM 347 •K'.wi no,2aa IH r.!i 4.5 104,744 nil 2(1,241 l(M,itrH) 13,27!) fiO,.'i►' C'an.ui.v. Not tiik I'ikidick | „ i'>r.\i. '>r Canada. | '"""xk avm x,yr •M«i.tity. V«l,„.. Quantity. I V»l 4t«,;«!) I 2fl2,t'.<"i 2I5.01(» I 21)8, !Mii From thin statoinont it iinDfuiH ihnt tu.. . » t ' In 18H.) HHrr..k 1886 ■; 152,;W(} 1887 :.:;; (J!»,7;j(; 1888 71,ia5 84,811 Making tl.o .locrouHos uh follows, tVo,n 188G In 18a«. 1887 1888 HiuicIh. 82,(;(;o 8i,2(;i «T,585 Tho deci'ca.soH in our ex.io.-f..t.v>« V- i • <'T,585 Our oxpo,-t of herringH to ti.o United States wo.-o :- In 1885.. 188«... 1887... 1888... BftrrclH. 9!>,4!)3 28,.303 34.573 40,571 In 1885... 1886. 1887. 1888. Our exports to tho British West Indies wore -I liarrclM. 31,3!)7 23,881 .".'.".".".".".".".'.".' 21,2ia The significant fact that in the v,iZ'\' hnfu 7" ^*''"*^ S;atSs^r*'"f\'''^""^'*««k place i.;S^ «»d^len falling off in btates cannot ho atti-ibutabl(> soklv o.- -. ri, ^° decrease as to the United changes in the duties on he.-rinin"^th,f ''''?' '" ""^ P^'-coptible deg.-eo to tar?ff ^s:v^t '''''' *he united"StXs."f ho=';s;o";'^'>r7*^'-'.'^"/*« '^^i^^^^Z in anl nf ?K "'''"^ ''"^ Holland in 1888 exceeded th^ ^1 ■'""^^ """ ^^'^ United in any of the years since 1885. excee-led the decrease in our exportations 17a — 2J 14 It is a remavkable fact, and a fact worthy of the best consideration of our Cana- dian fishermen and dealers, that nearly all the herrint? exported from Germany and Holland are Scotch-cured herring of the best qualities, carefully selected from the large Scotch barrels, and tastefully pi-t up in neat, fancy kegs of the size of one- eighth and one-sixteenth of a Scotch herring barrel. Now, if we are correct in assuming that the causes named operate in the direction of diminishing our.exporta- tions, then it is in our own power to remedy theevil— in the first place, by furnishin"- a better quality of herring, and secondly by an effort to meet the increasing demand in the United States and some portions of Canada, for what are called Dutch herrin"-. But besides this, by furnishing ah article of herring equal to Scotch herring' the consumption of herring in the interior Provinces of Canada can be greatly increased. It is a well known fact that all peoples living far inland from the sea are fond of salt sea herring, if supplied to them of good quality. Almost evei-y body is fond of a good salt herring now and then, and especially in the winter time. VVeheaixl in Scotland of a physician of great skill and experience who advised his patients to eat a salt herring every morning, not simply as an article of nourishing diet, but as having a wonderful influence on the general health of the eaters, and acting on the system in some secret, salutary manner of which ho was certain although unable to explain. In an essay on the herring in 1872, Di-. James Silvis JpoddH, of England, says: "The herring is highly medicinal, and good for food in the plagues." He also I'ecommends the oil of herrings as " of excellent service in cramps and convulsions." The extent of the herring trade in Europe proves the universality of the demand for herring among all nations, and the inexhaustible supplies of herring contained in the sea tends to show, in a remarkable degree, the wise and generous beneficence and goodness of the Great Creator. As to the suitability of the herring, when furnished in a sounil state, for food, we have only to consider the robust health and longevity of the peasantry of Scotland and Ireland and other continental countries where herring are largely used as an article of food' The value of the fish taken in Canada in 1888 was $17,418,510, of which there was exported to the value of 87,'793,183, leaving for home consumption the value of $9 625,327, being the greater portion of the entire catch, including the fresh water fisheries of Ontario, Manitoba and British Columbia. It is safe to predict that if our herring were as carefully cured as the European herring that nearly the entire catch of herring in the Maritime Provinces would be consumed in Canada, leavin"- only a small balance for the United States and the West Indies, thus securing for our fishermen better prices in a market at their door. From all we have seen and learned, wo are satisfied that our herring on the Atlantic coast will compare favorably with the herring of Europe, not even except- ing that of the west coast of Scotland, and that all that is needed is the ability to prepare and put them up after the European methods. This it is quite possible to do if our people are willing to learn and to adopt those methods. This can be secured by the dissemination of information, a determination and disposition to learn, and an intelligent, patriotic co-operative eflfort on the part of all concerned, fishermen, merchants and consumers, press, people and legislators, to make Canadian herring, constituting as it does, such an important element of our national industries, our trade and commerce, second to none in the world, in quality at least. The following statement, compiled from the Fishery Reports, shows the quan- tity and value of the catch in the Provinces of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick Quebec and Prince Edward Island in the years 188t>, 1887 and 1888, also the quantity and value of pickled, smoked and frozen herrings, respectively, put up in the several Provinces, together with the names of the principal fishing grounds. From papers annexed to this statement it will be seen that the price received by the fishermen for herring is very low ; also, that under present arrangements, the merchants do not feel warranted in giving higher prices. In answer to one of the questions sent out by the Committee of the House of Commons in 1869, Alex. Corraicr, trader and farmer, Amhei'st, Magdalen Islands, says that in his locality fresh herring at that time sold at one shilling per 200 pounds. The Canadian fish- ation of our Cana- •om Germany and ielected from the f the size of one- ve are correct in jhing our.exporta- ace, bj'- furnishing iicreasing demand eel Dutch herring. > Scotch herring, fi can be greatly nd from the sea r. Almost every the Avinter time. who advised his jle of nourishing f the eaters, and ho was certain, Di". James Silvis I, and good for as " of excellent in Europe proves the inexhaustible ^able degree, the sator. As to the , we have only to ind and Ireland, m article of food. 0, of which there )tion the value of T the fresh water )redict that if our learly the entire 1 Canada, leaving thus securing for r herring on the not even extept- lod is the ability is quite possible ds. This can be id disposition to jf all concerned, 3 make Canadian tional industries, least. shows the quan- unswick, Quebec he quantity and p in the several price received by rrangements, the ver to one of the I in 1869, Alex. t in his locality e Canadian flsh- 16 erman receives much less for his herring than English and Scotch fishermen receive. VVei^e the herrmg industry of Canada once placed upon a proper basis the fisherman would receive a higher and more certain price for his fish, and the merchant would secure higher prices and more certain profits. Statistics of the Herring Fishery in the Maritime Provinces, as compiled from the Fisheries Reports. NOVA SCOTIA. 1880. 1887. Quantity. | Vahu I Quantity. V.aliic. I Pickled Brls. Fresli, frozen Lbs. Smoked Boxes l,'i."),7.")0 2()0,7OO 30,701 .S I 023,000 I 10,428 I !I,1',I0 I 042, (!18 I 181,140 )=! 81.5,157 No retnrns. 85,010 i 21,477 830,(i34 1888. (Quantity. 175,285 3,120 33,0(X) Value. 701,140 312 8,250 700,702 NEW BRUNSWICK. Pickled Brls. 0.5,180 Frozen Lbs. ; 21,023,300 Smoked Boxe.s 1,081,384 380,720 120,130 270,34ti 777,205 82,81!) 21,080,700 1,478,900 372,085 109,933 309,749 852,.307 05,225 22,.305,500 1,448,2.50 aso,9oo 133,8.S3 3()2,002 870,795 Pickled Brls. PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND. 129,012 38,,S74 43,204 174,9.33 I 32,883 j 131,532 QUEBEC. Pickled . . Brls. . Boxes 18,500 7,500 74,240 1,890 70,1.30 18,938 9,702 85,221 2,440 l(i,807 8,040 Smoked 67,228 2,100 87,(!01 09, .'«8 Total Value.. 1,01,5,505 1,951,,595 1,787,417 , Eeoapitulation of the Catch. PICKLED HERRINGS-Brls. Nova Scotia New Bnniswick Prince Edward Island Quebec Totals. . 1880. 155,750 95,180 43,204 18,5(i0 1887. 312,094 181,140 82,819 .38,874 18,9.38 321,077 1888. 175,285 I 95,225 jValue, 84. 32,883 I 10,807 I 320,200 i 954,071 Id 8MOKKD HERRINCxS-Boxes. Nova Scotia . . . New BniiiHwick. Quebec Totals 3(!,7(il 1,081,384 7,5(10 1,025,705 85,010 1,478, 0!l(! 0,702 1,574,()(W 33,000 l,448,2r,0 Value, 25 cts. per lx)X. Nova Scotia . , . New Urun.swick FROZEN HERRIXGS-Lbs. 2i,!)8ii;700 8,010 1,48»,8!)() 3,120 22,305,500 ■4,190,203 22,308,020 The greatest portion of smoked herrin-s corner fmrr. w -d stSln^F ^' 'f^ of fresh-frozen h^rhS? " ^^n^wick. Smoked and frozen hemngs are mostly all caught in Charlotte County. FISHING GROUNDS of cJ.jsS5 z s;iTi.4t^Lrstr^ "'«^^-' ^»™™«>. "•« ^-^^^ I» Quebec : the eoa,t of Labrador „„d a,.„u„u Jfagdaloa Mand,. CHIEF MARKETS. Canada and the West Indies. PRICES OBTAINED. f»/.'w;t!:nrirch7er£;i,''"Sti^^^ "v° fl*o™e„,who «„ n™ packs the fish. ^ "''"'''• ^'^® schooner furnishes the barrels and re (£x(™C(»/™m J^i,,y J-„^,„„, j;^^^^^^.^ ^^^^^^^ j^^^^ HERRING. yet th?t'o?af relultf^?^^^^^^^^^^ not been an abundant one industry shows a gratifyinVS-ease of 6 19 ) J?n '"f"^ '^''"^["'^ ^"'^"^^ «f th« fi^hTn- with an increase of 12 wi oZTh, L: ""''"'^^^ ''^^^^ "smoked herring " has no^t yet tta ned .nv TnoTr^^' ^'''^- ^^^« i"«ry of new departure in '^lerring iiH, g -' for exL-l ^ f'^ l""- C"Pe Breton. But a canned herring init up as ^almon^andlcKusrallv'^^^^^^^^^ year, that is! to the unequalled excellent onnlitv nf .V'"^'^^'e' usually are, fresh in cans. Owinp^ ment of oamied herr'ng me2 s Sh a fh! f T,"''' ^''"''''S "^ ^^is coast, if the experf new era of profit and pm^p: ty^^Vda vn ^^^^^ Pf 1- mm-kets.Sn 1 coast. The finest quality of herrin iscIuL^ht on Ihl ^"'!"f ^'^'""y ^^ this island hot season, and, being largo and fe ,3 of U ^f '''"'* "^T'^S ^^e middle of the cleansed and salted. If tlTe canned \.H^L '' frequently lost before it can be much of the loss heretof,r:^^:t:iS iS'll^StS^S^^ti^f ^«'^" ^^^ I 000 (JIO 8!)0 Value, 25 cts. per l)OX. 4,190,203 20 00 20 swick. County, outh, the Strait iland, Bay de3 rorthumberland ivho sell them ban-els and re- iTel; but this 70 abundant one, of the fishing ^^ear, together e industry of re ton. Eut a rear, that is, ans. Owing if the experi- n'kets, then a )f this island middle of the ore it can be gn markets, 17 (Ea;tractfrom Fishery iMpector Ber^^R^~i^^^J'^~'^'^'" » m.. , HERRING. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Breton fisheries for the year nerativo to a degree that went f n tn^i ' ^"^ ^^"■'"^' ^^''«''y turned out rcS- Considering the v^alue of hS? 4' ,\^/Srof'"''«/^^^ ^r ^" ^^h^'' bnucTes. Z " f ^Pl' f ^'^ ^«^ home consumSuo, ti o w .JJ'^'^'f '''f ^'^'■"'^'" commerce, and barrels of fish on the coasts of ^wfi^ md . ! h ^^f'^'^'^" "^ thousands of mackerel seiners, is a most serious m-itteih.' \ ''^^^^ ^'"■'''^" ^^"^'^ "' the sea by abl. natural resources of this cou^tr^ Sis U nt w?ll7v"^ T "^^''« "^"^^ ^'"l" to in this report under the headin-^of'-Dosfn Hlr^n^''?"^ '""''^ ^"''.>' referred be remarked that the summer herrfe^ ttk.^^n ?I . ^^'^"^^ of Fishing." Jt may in s,^e and excellence of quality of "hen^.rp,^ Tr^"" ^* *h'^ '^I'^'^l i« "..equalled America. This is a local pScul arity o ' h f,S-^/\«^ any other coast inVorth henung always commands two or lu-ee d hrn 1 ',. '' 'V^'^",'' ^'"''"■^' °"«. ^"^ this t ..s cou.. t.y. It foilo^vs that owi. g to it boiV" ^? T ''''^'•^^'l than other he.-ring in true m;ii ;.. t value of the catch is Lt hl^ ^-f^' 'I'T^ '''^ the average price 'The tables he.oto appended. ""'^ ^^ *' '«'"^^^'«''»ble amount .■epre'ented in the CANNED HERRINfl. 1 referred to this in my renort foi- l«^ t'.e product at remunora- enlarged their canning business anTS'n t'Z "^ '^' ^''''' '^''y '>'^^-« this -Jar nent basis. " * *- '' '^"^ ^<^^''"^J it as being now established on a pernri- done^by Ilhz^fty Srelifde'!" '""l'"^' ?" •^"^*^'^ "' «-tland shows what can be vsion. There w^sKtint S fo fot'^r,"!:!-'''"^'^^ the industry in that country was at an low.n!.^'"^- ^''?"'^ "^ Scotland when In his very interesting^ wo korth^l^r'n '' n?'.'"^,*'* "s in Canada now faHhery has tended i7i no sSl Se^L^ 'to incTeln T^'' Tf ^''''' "^«'^'^«« «f tS population ofthe Scottish coasts Yidt^nff the wealth and the number of the rade must have a^reat Ld benefilnnS^^^ ad. htionof the value of the herri,i<, land but of the while British Island, ThoZvr '''^P»•««Pf"t.y, not only of S^ot"- .terhng eve.y year to our na S weaUh n ust ^ tf'^'^^l ""^ ™'"'«" P»»"d8 patriotic mind. The success of fL 1 must be extremely gratifying to everv stations loused the exeiSrof he £Ks^of" ^^^ ^'^^^-^^-S fashery had not been befo.-e attempted Whit '.?i ^ I «ther places where the herring previously in the Clyde, in theK of Forth off R^''^ ^fV^^''' ^'-^''^^^ on fo,- yea^f counties of Caithness and Suther an Ishire t '.•« l^'^'^^'^'^'i'^'*^' •■^"'' i" the northern ring fishing stations have bee estab? shed n A.? T ""u-" ^^^^ ^^^^ extensive her- and Eosshire; at Lossie Mouth St P - n ,^ ^'^"'^ Banffshire. Mor.nyshive 18 " The increase of the herring fishery depends very much on the demand for exportation, and this demand requires to be carefully cultivated, not merely by the curers, who may be viewed as the manufacturers of the goodn, but by the Government, which by impartial and just legislation protects the interests of the fisherman, the consumere at home, and the merchants and consumers abroad. That there was an abundance of heri-ings on the Scottish coasts was known for centuries past ; but when considerable quantities of them appeared, they were of little remunerative value when caught, because the dernand was limited to the mere local consumption. Before the specific and legalized size and quality of the manufactured article — the barrel of well-cured herrings — could bo obtained as goods for commerical purposes, a meichant abroad could not buy herrings in Scotland, there having been no legal, distinct specific form and quality. The curer might say: My barrels are of every size, and various in quality and price ; but the foreigner could not order nor buy such goods, and he therefore bought herrings which were of legalized size and good quality elsewhere; and although he paid a high price he obtained what he wished in Holland and other countries, and these countries ai'e ready to supply any quantity if Scotland should be unable to do so." "Before a proper system of legislation was adopted in Scotland, and even for some time after the system was introduced, the demand from abroad was incon- siderable ; but confidence having been given from years of experience, and the trade based on a solid foundation, under legal enactments fixing measure and quality, the business progresses, and bids '.lir every year to extend and increase. To prove the progress of the increase we may state that in 1812 the total quantity of herrings exported to the continent was 4,*720 barrels. BarrelH. In 1815 it amounted to 35,80] 1840 82,515 1845 143,754 1850 257,108 1885 344.029 " If any evidence were necessary to prove that a fixed legal standard, applying to quantity as well as quality, is necessary to ensure success, this statement is all that can be wished. But we have more direct and convincing evidence still; for when the curers in Scotland thought any size and quality of herrings would sell abroad, and persisted in attempting to supply foi'eign markets, the attempts were failures, and the demand for fresh herring being limited, the price was so low as not to induce fishermen to proceed to fish, and there was consequently a limited or losing trade. But additional evidence that a staple article, at a fair price, will obtain its position in the market, is obtiiined by the account of the importations at one of the principal importing ])orts on the continent (Stettin) for a series of years past. "In 1825 there was imported there of white herrings in barrels from: — Britiiin Holland. Denmark. Norway. 1825 18,160 4,295 1,960 0,758 1845 81,189 2,457 307 44,264 1850 116,538 568 470 12,507 " In 1885 the quantity exported to Stettin of Scottish herring was 160,572 bari-els, being about nine times the qimntity sent from this country in 1825, double the quantity in ,1845, and more than a third greater than the quantity exported thither in 1850. There were exported to other places on the continent in 1855 I 344,029 barrels. " The number of herring fishing boats employed in Scotland in 1856 was 11,251; the number of fishermen, coopers. &c., 91.1.39. Of these 91.139 people directlv! employed, 39,266 are fishermen ; but if we add those employed indirectly by the I money derived from the fisheiy, namely, the boat-builders, sail-makers, rope-makers, jrast-makers, salt-makers, grocers, carters, porters, shipowners, sailors and other I 19 m the demand for not merely by the y the Government, the finherman, the That there was an enturies past; but ittle remunerative local consumption, tured article — the imerical purposes, i^ing been no legal, irrels ai'e of every order nor buy such zo and good quality I wished in Holland [uantity if Scotland iland. and even for broad was incon- ence, and the trade e and quality, the ftse. To prove the uantity of herrings Barrels. . 35,8!>] . 82,515 . U3,754 , 257,108 . 344,029 standard, applying lis statement is all Bvidence still; for errings would sell the attempts were I was so low as not •a limited or losing ice, will obtain its tions at one of the f years past. 3ls from : — ■k. Norway. I 0,758 ■ 44,204 I 12,507 rring was 160,572 ry in 1825, double quantity exported continent in 1855 n 1856 was 11,251; 9 people directly M indirectly by thef kers, rope-makers, sailors and other trades, the number will appear incredible to those who have not an opportunity of closely observing the incalculable benefits accruing to the nation from the pros- perous state of such a fishery. Here we see employment to the industrious classes while they are adding an abundant supply ol' cheap and wholesome food for the numerous population of the British Islands. " The great extent of the commerce that arises from the fisheries may be judged of from the number ofships and men employed in importingsalt and matorialsibr"tho fisheries, in conveying the fish on the coasts, and carrying the same to Eritish or foreign ports. " It would be difHcult to give any correct estimate of the capital employed by the fish curers of Scotland; but when it is known that in 1855 there wore 1,054 fish curers directly employed in purchasing herrings and curing them for the homo and foreign market, it may be supposed that the capital jjut in circulation must bo very great, without reference to the amount circulated by those merchants who princi- pally cjirry on business in buying the cured herrings. "The more rapidly the manufactured articles cease to be of use the more employment is afforded to the people; and as the fishing vessels or boats last only a few years, and the nets a sho:ter time, and as the barrels are generally only available for one year, the continual employment of great numbei-s of Vorking classes in pro- curing materials and making them is of no small advantage to the community, and a ready sale is besides afforded for numerous cargoes of hoops from the English' and of stave wood from the Scottish forests, as well as from foreign countries. ' "We thrnk it necessary thus to point out not only the great extent, but also the great importance of herring fishery, as proving liow much the knowledge of the natural history of the herring is connected with the prosperity of these kin-rdoms; for without such knowledge this importan^^ fishery is in danger of being destroyed." Although Canada cannot hope to devolojj such a trade as the herring fisheries of Scotland, yet a great deal can be done to improve the present condition of the herring industry with us, and there is encouragement for us in the foregoing sketch of the rise and progress of the trade in Scotland from 1808 to 1855. Bu't the herring industry has att;;ined to very great dimensions in Scotland since 1855. To proceed, however, with the purpose and work of our mission, we bog to state tliat immediately on our arrival in England we waited upon the Honorable the High Commissioner for Canada in London, who procured for us numerous letters of intro- duction, addressed to fish curers in various parts of Britain; also a letter from the Home Office to the British Consul in Stettin, from whom we received every possible kindness and information. We were also treated most kindly by Mr. Dundas, the British Consul at Hamburgh, although we had no letter of introduction to him. ' We as soon as possible delivered our letter of introduction to Cajit, (rraham, Secretary of the Fishery Board of Scotland, who received us most kindly, evinced the deepest interest in the objects of our mission, and furnished us with a general letter adressed to all local fishery officers throughout Scotland. All of these gentlemen upon whom we called were most courteous, painstaking and assiduous in giving us every informa- tion in their power — introducing us to fish curers, giving us much of their time, and in eve'-y way facilitating the attainment of our purpose. Indeed, we found the fish curers, and all classes engaged in the herring trade with whom we came in contact ready and willing to give us all the information in their power. ' The first great fishing station we visited was Great Yarmouth, England, where the herring fishing on a large scale is carried on. On our arrival there we found ourselves out of the herring fishing season proper, which does not commence there until nearly or about the first of October. Many of the smaller fishing boats were away prosecuting the herring fishing on the east coast of Scotland. From fishermen, owners of boats and fish curers, we obtained much information respecting the herring industry in Yarmouth. Wo saw herring arrive by t.r.iins from Scotland. These herring, well mixed with salt, were put up loosely in barrels. When delivered at the established herring mart they were put up to sale b}' auction and sold to the hiing, insomeofthLrtlLmTaTmsof he"fi^^^^^^^^^^^ '"""'^. ^"^ British 'isles, except fish npt far from each other TLyrem'dn out ?ordnr"f-'' ^""'' P "^'" «^«^« "". Pi«kled, or London market. 'P^''"' *''® ^'<^«^» ^^^ generally being sent to the busse^f L'd'iSlSrgSr ?^ ^ret; S Itembf ^^^f ^.^ ^"^"^-^' *^« ^^^^ch somewhat in rigging, beingTll nfeXl fo f "'"^'^ each other in build, differing drift-net fishing_at considemble dlZZtlfl ? '".""" r^'^"^ °^ work-the deep-sef Scotland and fn IveZdXetvrT^^^^ England in strong, staunch, substant al sea-irofSoaTs 3 il . '"''''"'"' '" ''='«• ^^^^ «!•« of keel, and they are eiisily handled Tn «L!f ?"""^'^ ''''P"'^*^^ ^«'- ^^e length of sails, the boafs of one pJr??n Scotland differ frl'to?: 'f '^^'^^J- ^-'^^5°^ and Sut of one port may be nearly all alikp r,^^^ • u^ ^'^ ^^ ^^^^^ Ports ; the boats offornS^-whilJthoseTf^tt. po?^?;el ful appearance to the eye. Ariiowever a e^l^U .''.' l*"?u P'"'"^"* '^ ""^''^ S^ace- are intended, in the boiLro4 i^^S S rdSfh'ffnrOcr"'^^"'^^' *^^^ looked uptr2re\Tn'tu?etLeTi"fo"'f *'^^- ^^"^"^^^ «"P*^"- ««* boat«, are natural sl)irit of bold daring as well a^onfdi' ^^'r^",^;""^h ^'-^ther, than other's-a this. The nearness hS acfeLiFHtv P f r^''^'" *^® '*-^^« ^^ *^o«t«, may le.od to no doubt, be a co^s dtX^ n S^h cnsS'' T^ °*' -?"g^ weather, would! Wick herring fishing boat, as t^ken by us from o^e onhTEt: :- ""'P"''" '''''^ bed to London cled herring is of the Scotch ' in thut j'egion ng there. Tho sh or manufac- J, and of which siced lugger, of jib. They are 380 vessels are the hold, care- ixo these com- smiiil donkey ) firth a consid- e tlio iierring They cai'ry feet in length, reserving the ithor or other trger herring ip-sea fishing. Isles, except f in fleets and more, accord- tly there has 'X"8hip, and a ■. As is the i taken in at deck, where >to the hold, 3an drain off, herring are , pickled, or sent to the 1, the Dutch ild, differing the deep-sea England, in They are ■ the length ^ng and cut i ; the boats h symmetry more grace- which they a boats, are n others — a nay had to her, would, 3tion of the away, 21 so with an average width of " trZ mt 'a ',''':" /""' '^'^'"' l'"«t« "pWH.t o L/h^ are decked, witl, a largo hatcl, 1 1 ^ '""'''' ''"""^vod fbro and aft T i' ".111. lliojiW,,,,,,,, ,„ „,„vo„b|„ |,.,,| .,,„„, J,'", ■'.""■go mam.«ail imil «niij| „ii//,„, are no .lay, ,„ le, except n »,„„|i "m T«, !, °","' i'"'' 1"" "" »« i^iuim "iw «i«l akon „„,ler „ deal Irnol , Z ,"'■'■'■. "■'','«l' " ""'Jo fa»t to ll,o , ,lo, „„d board where it is l^elayed, Tl," ?. : 'o^ "'".',"""-''>' ""''■ 'be water line, ami led on Jib-boom, and i. I.oi-ledwitl.oit a ?;,.'; °."'«J-'> " -acle fa.t to Ibo oute; c-nd „r ,hS booj on ;rx:;!r 7;t^rt t;i,;s ;: :;!»::r »i! -.-^ J'ovo througl, an in,n nheefTn tl.^t^v fl' "^ '"^ ""'^'^- *^"'' «*' '''« wi r^r nneHs •leek by two fo,.o and aft beam oxt^.dfn . f? '^''?'^i'^^- Tl.e mast i« «ecurJd in he ^a^'''' ^^^''« '"'"^ hatch WhnVaTJn;.;?. f^'"^^■""vard of the maS o to aft beams prevent the mast f,.om su' v m W. ':';^«""K the mast these fore and there are chokes or wedL^es r-. , >n i ' ?-^- *"''®" *''« ni"«t i« hoisted in itl^Vj to prevent n fron, mSg a^t ThJ .r" '"""'') «««" across the fo^ ani"aft bl ms mast being stepped abaft the hatch and tl,„ -i '?' / , ''' ^"^^•^ s"ia K, the mizzen The If! ^^■^ Rt^DDEB. yfebt as-a'^SlVLSKntTnif^'tf lit;" ""^r ^"^ *" 1-' Wn. ihe rudder is fastened by three stTvE,.'^'''"" "^ the rudder an easy tTsk T. „ NETS AND .MESHES. 22 Scotland, Iuih to say alioul lu'tH and inosluw. Kiom tliin it will lie hocii tbiit tho question of tho moHh and ils size has boon very tlioroii^lily discussfd in Scotland. Our own opinion, I'roquontly oxprcssed to tiMliermen and otliors in Uritain, iw, that tho present mesh in use in .Scotland is too ttmall, and calculated to take iininaturo horrinj,' of sinali size and to allow the larger iierrinj^ to escape. Wherever we saw newly caiiu;ht heirinijf we wore surprised at the small size of tlie fish, showinj^ either that tho hir^e herring had been tished out years a^o, leaving only small young fish to be taken now, or else that tho snudl mesli fails to secure or gill the larger Hsh, Old |)eople in tho north of Scotland know that the herring taken now are not, in wizo equal to tho herrini;' of fifty years ago, and for this there must be some cause. The »!cotcli tishermen, however, eiiterlain very decided opinions upon the subject, and univornall^' express their preference for the small m(!sh of 2 inches, which is tho smallest mesh for herring allowed by law — when the not is new — but which, an a matter of fact, diminishes in size from tiie action of the water by Hwolling the twino, especially the cotton twino, when tho nets are put in use. On this lioad the British Commissioners in 1H7S say: "Some of the reasons whi(di prevent ns from recommending a close season equally deter us from adopting another recommendation which was constantly made "to us, namely, that the mesh vif the herring nets should be regulated. " It was over and )ver again contendcil by the witnesses who appeared before us that the present mesh of herring nets was too small, and that it would bo wiser to have tho old mesh of inch from knot to knot, Tho history of the old mesh is curious. So long ago as lSt!8 an Act was passed making it illegal to take hori'ings in any ])art of (freat Biitain with any net having a mosh less than inch from knot to knot. This Act still applies to Scotland, but it is practically inca])ablo of enforcement, because it only ap])lies to the territorial seas, and tho greatest part of tho herrings are not caught in those seas. In tlie Convention which w .-^ concluded with the Fi-onch ("rovornment in 1843, and which was confirmed by tho iiri'.ish Act of the same year, tho same provisicm was introduced (Article ^8). And while the provision was in force it was undoubtedly illegal for any fisherman to use a not for herrings with less than an inch mesh. Tho Convention Act was, however, repealed by the Sea Fisheries Act of 18(J8, and since then no law of mesh has boon enforced on tho Scotch herring fishormon. " There is then a precedent for tho law of mesh. Tho first objection to it is that such a law can only bo enforcoil by a fresh Convention, and that it must therefore depend on tho views of foreign Governments. Apart, however, from this objection, there arc grave reasons for thinking that any interference with tho mesh would^ bo inexpedient. Tho law of mesh was passed to prevent tho capture of immature fish. The immature fish will not readily take the salt, and are therefore useless to tho fish curer. But the immature fish, it may be observed, command a fair price in tho fresh fish markets, and furnish a considerable supply of wholesome food, especially to the ]-»oor. Unless it could bo shown that the capture of immature fish was dimin- ishing tho capture of mature fish, we think that the Legislature should refrain from interference. "It is indeed true that many fishermen are of opinion (1878) that a larger mesh would actually prove more pi'otitable than the smaller mesh which is now in use. The larger herring are imperfectly meshed in tho smaller mesh, and drop out of the nets and are lost. We are inclined to believe that tlio fishermen are, in many cases, using too small a mesh. Some of the most intelligent among them are of this opi- nion, and are ordering meshes of a larger size, even down to 33 to the yard ; but it would evidently not bo wise in the interests of the fishermen to interfere with the fishermen on thjs ground. It might undoi- certain circumstances bo necessary to provide a certain mesh to save immature fish. That course has long been adopted in the case of salmon, but it could hardly be justifiable to institute a larger mesh for the sake of increasing the immediate profits of the fishermen. The fishermen them- selves must, in the long run, be the best judges of the mesh which it pays them to 28 UHo; ami (oxcontinff for tho protection of the fiHherios) thoro cnn bo no roaHon for intorlonni^ hy h'^islation. " Tl.oro iK aiiutli.T reason a,i,'ainst any intorC.Mvnco witi, tlu^ mosU. A coMon not when jt loavcH tho factory has a lar-or nn>s}, than alfr it is harlvod. Tlio nu-sh' Rhnnkswi hovory rosh .aridnK. Tho stoufr ..otton shrinks more than tho t ner »w vv'iH ' ."""T"' ' "'7' ''"'."'^^ '"'"■" "•'"' "'^' '"■•♦^'- ""•"'"'• A not woi^M.inK 20 uu'Jll . • ""^ ."n '• '•< .^'il':' ' ".'"'' ^^•"i'^'I'i"^' 1<5 »»«•. with :W moshos to the yard ; a not mMguny 14 lbs with ; 4 moshos to tho yar-l ; an.l a not weighini. i;{ Ihs.: with .15 noshes to tho yard, would all shrink to ahout tho same size, or toaiuM.I 'M meshos o ho yard. A hshernian i-norant of this fact, onlorin- a not with a liltio stronger nir,\niJH'' ?''\'^\\'''''''"*''"''.'''^^ '^''•' '"I'P"'"' ''"» ^^''"' an interior article, mij^'ht unwittuin^iy ho led to an intraction of tho law. ' " This circumstanco has so much force that many of the witnesses who have rccommonde.1 the roirulat.on of the mesh arc in favor <,fonforoin- tho law in the manutactones. The manufactui^ors, us a rule, w.,uld not ohjoct to t1.is arran.^cme because It w..uld give loss trouhlo, and the, pay them hotter to tnako a net with a wider than a narrower mesh. Wo should i.nag.ne, however, that lie Mae tv'H e^^e'yTlcfory."'' " '" '"^*"''" '""'^'''"^'•>' ^or examining all nets made in The nets now (18S0) in use in Britain are mado of cotton with 2, and in some cases 2.f,nch mesh, UK) meshes deep and 20 fathoms long unmounte.1. A si.Me head rope of about 2|-,nch manilla, made oxpr.'ssly fi.r the purpose, and which wiH not kink, the norsels are very largo, an-l wlien tiistoned will leave a space of ab.,ut5 mches between the not and ;.he head ropo. There is a round piece ot' cork-wood on every secoiul norsel, \yhich is put on befo.'o tho norsol is made fast to the hea•, •'letting the nets is at sunset. The regulations of the Scottish Fishery Board render this imperative ; but, as too often liapjensin tho case ot the most sahitary regulations, violations do occur. The commission appointed by the British Government in 1878, already referred to in their report on this subject Set y Cj » V J "It is also desirable to prohibit the shooting of any movable or drift nets between sunrise and sunset as no doubt shooting in daylight scares tho fish, and in this way causing the shoal of herring to sink the act of one or two improvident 24 n I m ouHity -,,uo.. ,y n.>iHo ,.r any circuniHtancoM ; «n.l, hr.vvov " littlo 2 t tl.n mmmmmmm hc.w!;™';L",!:;;'„„vrn„" n %. , s ™:oi'ri;ia,?i: :"- ■"", «":?;"-*•' plhcr the uvino or l»xly of tl.o not a„,l Iho S i^ ' V« v o ion ,„! „f! „o '^ ""' SLf ,vr '«-'■;/",»"" r' -'« '1.0 b'o:i'"ro"h''irJi,"„r ■" ■ * "■'" "°" ARRIVAL IN HARBOIl. into the carts 4 stfttntA lvi-b-«.fc +^ +1, ^ " "^ii, '^oais, ana tho lish are measured of herrings The Tsh are hen Ir^tfJT ^^^^ ""''" '^"^''^'"^ ^ ''^^'■«' «» ^ ^-^^^If vats and'sprinkled with sa t whe^? thL """^ •"'" ''Jm ' ^"*^ l'^'"^'« ^^"'^'•^ shallow niade, and^the heitin'gi'utth^^i^L'coSen^^^^^^^^^ "" ""•"'^^^- «^ ^^'--^ -« THE HERRING GUTTING GIRL. -Ihe herring-gutting girl is an institution in SnoflaM — An imnr.H^n- f^M • the greax hornng fishing»induBtry of that country. ' Without heVthSting!cSng fi^' in II timid finh, r litflo ert'oot tho in^M, wo think it in llio iinniodiiito ifiM mid tlrtiiH of m ontoring those of tho lochs on 'garding (lie rulo rewarded liy a at tho fact of ho Bred that tho tinh and tliiH it was d in tho liK'h for of tho Miin. during tho night lio liawsor made .'ont tho nets are 1)0 found most iHiiornion call an no side through net going along laidf which one lorM of tho crow ho hoiits go off rcumstancos tho lie, they do not in ; 8o that nets cumbent weight flfect tJie quality !e shaken out of smacks and the irfect condition. salt cannot be ate in tho after- ish curers, at so E" green herring p of the barrel. , all herring are the fishermen i per cent. — the sample of their the fish curers When the fish 1 are measured rrel and a-half square shallow ' deliveries are >rtant factor in putting, curing girl, in tho or four, in great care if herring, unsound an selves and t las shown th barrel may ^fotch mod( vith a shorl amazing .apidl^nddexLfiv" P'' ^"^'^^ «^' l«t in" ancri^.S' '" ''^^"•^' ^'-^^^^ gut and pack 80 biurels nX' 4" ^xpei-tand exneriSn?ed oCt "/./' ''^"« ^^^^h Scotch herrinff baiiil Pnn<".^ ^%?}'^^ i" «"« day. And h« if , ''^ '"'^e girls can barrel contains oX inn h"!.?^*^ *« 275 lbs of W,.;.? ' T.t"'^^'''^^ t^^^t the very leant to 100 ba Jof P °' ^^r^' '" '^-^'^ ^^ Scofch b • e)?';'^/ i""^' C'anadian 80 barrels in one d-u-w^ ''"'?'''"" herrings. We saw « w- T'-'' ^^ «1»«1 »* the two gut or gi"S 1hi-heS:r* S?!^' ^T^^^'' ^^o hSl'f KS' ^ ^ ^'f J-cked number is writfnn ;^ UI&" -'■"•^ "ead oirl r>f o..ok V®^, pacJcs, the other 8 pence sterling about ll f '"^ 'l'^'^ P'^'ti so much per ban pJ „. ^u ^<'«a''zed, but slngTe *rch.'°"' ""''» "f ^--^ «°^'4 tr 'ur^^^^^^ " »w . «i8aebmi,es.of.l,. .,■ ■'■'"" ""•'<«1 "P in almost effected S''y„l *« Slitting operation A„/"""«^^^^^^^^^ h ' »hort atrSfeSSeted"?' '7 f" ^ "t\,,f Lt£te°'*"'^ '" "" eec„™e,edta.fe,u„m^i„,ertedatthe'4pe"SonCl1^ 26 ■which takes away the fore fins, the gills, the stomach and the crown gut, all that will follow with one cut. The herrings which have previously been sprinkled are then roo- sed with salt and taken and packed in the barrels. . The packer sprinkles a quantity ot salt on the bottom of the barrel, then a tier or layer of herring packed slantingly on their back, as a general rule, with alternate sprinklings of salt and herring until the barrel is full in the proportion of a half bushel of salt to the barrel, the who e quan- tity of salt, including the first sprinkling and rooming being about one bush e to the Scotch barrel, which is larger than the Canadian barrel. The kind of salt called "Eincom" is that much used and preferred in Scotland— the "Tripani being pre- ferred in America. iiiii.ii- When the herring are intended for the Irish market they are packed flat on theii sides and when intended for the German market they are packed straight on their backs belly upwards, which, by pressing out the sides of the fish laterally, certainly improves the appearance of the fish and gives it a better and plumper appearance than they had before. The fish, as with us, are laid in the barrels with the hoads towards the staves, and the tails to the centre— the layers being laid across, alter- ^^ ^^hen the barrel is filled up it is, after settling some, headed up and left stand- ing on end for 3 or 4 days to allow time for the settling, shrinking, or " pming ot the fish It is then unheaded, when the herring, which have settled 6 or 8 inches, or more, ar found floating in pickle. This pickle is drawn off", and preserved in buckets, from the small bung hole in the side of the barrel, about 15 or 16 inches from the bottom, when the herring will settle still more in the barrel. A suthcient quantity if herring of the same day's catch is then taken from other barrels and carefully packed in to fill up. A small quantity of salt is laid on top of the last tier or layer of herrin<'s. The cooper then takes the " dunt," which is a stout, round piece of wood made to fit the inside of the mouth of ^ be barrel, on topof the herring which have been repacked in to come above the top of the staves ; he then, by standing or iumping on the "dunt," presses down the herring so as to insert the head, heads.iip the barrel, which is laid down on its side, bung-hole up, when the brine, previously drawn oft', and which has been preserved, is replaced, the bung driven in, and the barrel allowed to remain on its side ten clear days, so as to allow the fish to mature, or season, before it can be inspected. For transportation, the tighter the herring are in the barrel the better they will keep. By the British Act of 24th, July 1851 14 and 15 Vict. Chap. 2C, the law which required herrings to lie in the baj;rel PYeen days after being refilled, and before inspection, was repealed, and the bishery Commissyoners were empowered to fix any other period and they accordingly reduced the time to ten days. This change was made principally to enable curers to make shipments, and realize on consignments or bills of lading five days earlier. Itesults in the continental markets, as hereafter referred to, and as developed m this year (1889), seem to indicate unmistakably, together with other conducing caifses, that the change was injudicious, and that the character of Scotch herring has been lowered at Stettin and elsewhere by placing in these markets, herrings immaturely cured and unseasoned. Each curer has his own private mark and name, as well m the Government brand ; also the name of the inspecting officer and date of inspection, stamped on the barrels with hot iron brands. There is a small blow- hole in the top end of the barrel, by which the cooper, by blowing into it can test the tightness of the barrel, and if found not air tight, he remedies the defect by the insertion of flags in the leaky joints. ..^ e u f^ v.J There appears to be no compulsoiy rule as to the exact quantity of salt to bol used The fishery officer satisfies himself that sufficient salt has been applied fori the preservation of the fish before he attaches the brand. For certain markets| and for transportation a few more pounds of salt are used. One authority says that the British herring barrel should contain, when for home sumptioiij 235 lbs. of herrings, and when for the continental markets, 224 lbs. As alreadyl stated, the herring required to refill the barrels must be of the same day i catch, and if any of these look dirty or oily they are washed in ealt water, but no ivn gut, all that will ikled are then roo- inkles a quantity of Lcked Blantingly on d herring until the el, the whole quan- t one bushel to the kind of salt called ['ripani " being pre- packed flat on their I straight on their laterally, certainly )lumper appearance •rels with the hoads ig laid across, alter- 1 up and left stand- ng, or " pining " of Aed 6 or 8 inches, iff, and preserved in it 15 or 16 inches )arrel. A sufficient m other barrels and op of the last tier or I stout, round piece :)f the herring which len, by standing or ; the head, heads .up e brine, previously ig driven in, and the the fish to mature, hterthe herring are •24th, July 1851, 14 n the barrel fifteen )d, and the Fishery accordingly reduced ble curers to make /8 earlier. and as developed in rith other conducing of Scotch herring I se markets, herrings 'ate mark and name, ing officer and date | here is a small blow- ag into it, can test! ies the defect by the I antity of salt to bol has been applied for! 'or certain markets| led. One authoritj ibr home sumptic 224 lbs. As alreadj of the same day's ealt water, but M feettifi ti aa^j":^ .':^ o Ul 27 Tete Pckty?^^^^^^^^^^ Jnjutuftolfio i^l'troW'"', '^ "" ^'""^^ *''"* ^^^^ing and brittle, and that fy the use of waternU H ^^^ herring in washed away. There can bo no In nh .i'f. • ''''"^^' '^''''^«"« ^''^'o*- «f the Will fairly test the g^-eat difference bet^S a f,^^^^^^^ ''^^ touched water and a herring that has bopn wtn , ^'f h-bro.led herring that has not In the European markfts the , atnr-? fl ''f?^ "i '^"^«'" ^''^'''^ c^'<^'!^tl^uS^l:^' rr--^ '^^ ^--ng they sharper pointed blade, which they inser int the 1 J ' YV"^ '' ^"'^^' ^'*"'''« ""^ bone, and then by turning the knifMhey " ino- tww S. •■?'" /''" ^'^^' ""^ ^h« the crown gut or appendices cceci \v\7nh ih^ ^ ^, g'll« and stomach, loavinff flavour of th%herrinf1r?niat;-ocise^^^ ^t"'''.!'^ ''"J'^-*^-" ^l- more slowly, and the packing more caiefX tho?J "^' "^^*'' ^^'"^ '""^'e' '« ^'""e better done. Any dog.ee of su^-ior ty Which D^ ohT "T^i ^"^'"'" *'"'* ^'^'^ are possess over the Scotch-cured article sJotduoson,!. . '''"^ ^'7""^ a-e said to in the respective modes of curing as to the fnt^,^ ' any substantial difference different departments of the oiiHre p oc<^bs o? cu in„'^"'^ '^^'^'^ ^^ the carelessness on the part of some of the Wn^ "^ o"'' Packing, and neo-ligent a fanciful mode of packing thTherrin^ ?niL« .'"'",■"• Sometimes The Dutch ado t tail of the other, instead of taif to i 1 ll " om nT''' ^ "T ^ l^'^ ^''^^ "^ '^"« to tL t.er across the p'revious one. At othi'r imesTev nS t'L^^' '''^'"^' ^'^? «"bsequent around the inside of the barrel, commen oiS'r i ti.^; ,^ • ? '!?T"^' '" ^"■^•'''"^- f'"™ staves, and filing up the layers ovvuX?hc SntU rL ' f ^^' '"'^^^' '"^'^t to the be for the purpose of faciliVatinr^]^ '^,h,S n7 h -^'^ ''""". "^"'''^ «^ P«^'ki'>g may after referred' to, and to giveVe co?; J V^^thor?^' "''" ' '*^ '"'"" ^''^'' h^^'^i'^ appearance as could not be secured irtheca^eofef ^"''^^ !^."«^t and artistic packed in the usual way ""^^ ""^ ^'^^ ordinary stiff, sti'aight herrin- gMh^n^^KS-^^i-'i^^^^ :s^:f li^'i^nr^^^M-ee that m.^ on o:^::'^s^^ic^;:s^^ i^m^^bTstis tr^'^^^ ^v.^^^ ^^^^^'^' ^^^^ as ca«^A^, u>ith superior salt in oak bZelsr^aybl fhe onuT'T.f ^^'''''^' ^« '"'^ having obtained such a high character.'' ^® ""^ *''*' ^"tch hei-ring THE BARREI.. larch and spruce. The staves onrr^Jnh=!^ffp' tI?^P'^' **"^ ^'^'^ ^''^^der species of nearly the inly kind used by he Dutch fTni'-r ^?'"^^-^- ^^'^ '« ^^e bes^, and i8 and also becaul it does notC^fe p'kle '^s rio'd^ot^^^ '^^"^ ''^'^^et the scarcity of stave wood, the regulations have heenr^t^T' f" consequence of are now allowed to be used, but the staved mul? be heaSr CV^'J'^' '^'^'^ ^^'^^ I of an inch thick in the barrel bend Tn,? kI;. ^'^^^i®'^- , The hardwood stave is cleaned. The bottom end of theLire^is full hToZ ^ '^^ ^"^^ '^^'^ ^^hen quarter and end hooped-three quarter hoiinnH^^^^^ ^^« *«P «"d '« only eleven or twelve hoops In manv iSr «« 3 •'^''' ?"'' ^*'''P'--°" ^^^ l>ottom end tV of an inch thick, CkestS7;racro;\rfor end"hooS' ' ^T^^^^ ^^^^^' '^"^ ^"o top end is an improvement sugLsted by one of the Ih P''«5^^" ?'*^" ^*^»«P «» the has been very generally adopted. It ^ffreatlv nroteJ« Th""®^''' '"i ^««^1^«''' «"'! K^t j:,sr^^§^^r -^Sdi;;? aSySdi^oj'z ax *^^s^: ^? -jc LiuBHL .tmi mont reliable fish-curers in Huotland tnlH no +»,„♦ -aii..ifi, yjx^Q ^i .n. he^^_th_„e „.. f„„, b.™u with .he ironli^ltt Z^:^^^RZ\:^X 28 be required to do one barrel with the wooden hoops, and that by the use of the iron hoop the staves can be drawn tighter together than 'with the wo^en stave because It can be drawn tighter without breaking. This gentleman one of th« Inrlrlf AuK curers in Scotland, has adopted the iron hoop, toge'th r wiJh'ZJ o her " Tn so ne" p aces where .t was adopted its use has, in some cases, been abandoned, and in some places opinions d.tfer as to its value. We think the objections made to U« use arbe more from a sort of prejudice against all innovations than from any well founded reason. ^^ e heai-d ot only two objections to the use of the iron boor f one was tK the roughness of the outer edge of the iron hoop, caused by the iron driver used bv fhnt fTh!!"'' 'I "'^J'r'^^ of those engaged in handling the barrels; the other waf that If the non-hooped barrels full of herring were kept over for two or more to' wn TJ\l ^ '^ '""'f on the iron hoop would corro'de, not only the hoop bJtTe wood of the chine under the hoop, so rendering it weak and liable to bS in thl course of transportation. The use of a stout ilove or mitterwVuld meet the first objection and the fact that the iron hoop is iron'painted to prevent ius'md that t verj seldom happens that herrings are kept over for two yeSs dfspores of the second objection. 80 careful has the Fishery Board of ScotC'^een?n regard o the hand ing of herring barrels that the use of can hooks was prohibited ; but this fnof^rmH ^•^l^-^'^^n'iw, for we saw great quantities of herring barrels lowen^d into the holds of vessels by the use of can hooks. The Scotch herHng barrel must contain not less than 27 Imperial gallons. Half barrels are permitted,"if made of the legal size. Under the permission granted as to the use of certain softwoods for herring barrels, the hshery officers in some places tbund that they had o deal wth a new ottence. They found, with reference to the soft wood barrels that staves and headings were made so thick as to interfere with the capacity of the barrel and so reduce the quantity offish which the bi^rrels should conLn.^ Seizum wer^ made and barrels confiscated, because of thesl attempts to impose upon theTuichrer nimlTJT^ '^T''''^ ^" *^ ^'''^ ^f ^'-""ght up in ParliaiJent in A^ugust last (1889), when the Government promised to bring in a Bill next Session relilafW the herring barrel, and establishing a fixed standard for the same SS^oth^ has not been done, the regulations referring only to the minhrur;izr The ^Ix^ mum size had not been fixed. While the law, according to Mr. MUchell has been tha a barrel of herring for home consumption should nSt be less "^^235 pounds exclusive of salt, and for export to the European markets not less than 224 pounds' Zt.^J'' h^ *^f fr b^^'^l^.^o^tain 260 to 275 pounds of fish and sal? The weight of a barrel of herrings will vary, if properly packed, because one class of herrings differs f.;om another class. This 4s Ud while Ve Tre in ScoUand H IrT'^.^"^-^ P'T'"S the heaviest, and the "Spents " the lightest " Mattfes" arplnSsVIrtfer'™^'^^*^- ^'^ ''^^^^'^^^ in^eight ran from ^5 fol^or In his reply to questions sent out in 1869, already referred to, Mr. Gordon of Pictou, a practical and intelligent Scotch herring cooper, at one time says -''Tha herring barrels should be made of white ash, elm, maple yellow birch clear of san and heart and that hacmatac or the Norway larch is us^d by Scotch cuer •' He prefers oak where it can be had, and holds that hardwood staves retain the pickle Tintf r"- "'"^ '*• ^I'-- Mitchell, of Scotland, in his book, in one of his sugges! iZl?nft r,P'-''^«"^T* ^^ *^« '^r '"^ ^^.^''^^' '^y' ■-" Encouragement shouff be g ven to the fish curers to cure the herring in oaken barrels ; the 5utch do not een- ei-aby use any othel^ We are of opinion that oak is not only, for its strength and retentive qualities, the best suited for the purpose, but that there is a so a prfserva herriS? ^ '" ' * ^* '* moreover imparts a pleasant flavour to the THE CANADIAN HERRING BARRELS. .,.oJyj.''^^n^ ^A^^ ?® ''•P'"\^'' of competent experts in Scotland, as to the suffici- ency of our Canadian herring barrels, we took with us a new barrel from HaliZ!!. n barrel of average make— neither the very best nor the very worst. The barroi 29 he use of the iron en staves, because if the largest fish- others. In some >ne(l, and in some Jo to its use arise any well founded 3p : one was, that n driver used by Is ; the other was, v^o oi- more yeiirs, the hoop, but the 3 to brealc in the uld meet the first '' rust, and that it !, disposes of the been in regard to )hibitod; but this ^ barrels lowered ling barrel must ;ed, ifmadoofthe lin soft woods for had to deal with 3, that staves and the barrel, and so zures wei-e made a the purchaser, it in August last ession regulating I. Hitherto, this size. The maxi- itchell, has been han 235 pounds, ban 224 pounds, h and salt. The luso one class of ere in Scotland, litest, " Matties " pom 15 to 25 or ), Mr. Gordon, of le says :— '< That I'ch, clear of sap ;h curers." He etain the pickle le of his sugges- ement should be utch do not gen- its strength and also a preserva- it flavor to the is to the sufflci- from Halifax — *t. The barrel nd the news- "We have seen the amnre h ^ /r K ' ""' . . '^'T' ''' ^«"«^^'-^ ■- Canadian delegates w^o arEl'e e/ouh-in ' inM '" ^'''^^ ^'°""try by the ring. If this barrel is a fair specS f"£/.^ ''L^^"'"""* "''"'«'' ^^ curing-^ her! Canada, there is certainly vcZZ\lt^^^^^'^^^-S^ in the Dominion of than Scotch coopers put throu-h thoi I.-m, 1 •/■ '^'^ ''0"fe'''e'- article of the kind average Scotch llerri.^. barret T io Ca " cliarl!.,? "'"' ^''' «'|bstantial than Z back with them a sample of the work d^^ri^tonf^^^^^^^^^ "^^ '''^^ *« t«ke coopers m Canada will then be able to oZn-n. / '"". ^^'""^ cooperages, and the of their brother handicraftsman ',tlo OW SnT, v'"' ""'' ""'' ^'^^''^'^ '^'y f«" «ho' ' Since the above was written fl.o P...... i- . ■^' , , enced fish curers and ooope V ^ ^ Sn " ^^^ ^''T ^^'•™'"^d by experi- is passably fair, with th J exceptio loft^ fl "Ls t h ^' ^^«^'^'"»"-^hip of tL lirrel short and therefore apt to sp.i ,g a unde. • ml ?vi. i "fr "'' ''"••'•' ''^" ^^^'^'' «'■« *»« cien to contain herrings on the'spo whe'rrnncl i / ^ 'r'"'"'"^^^ ^""•*^' «»ffl- and too weak for purposes of tiansnorMtinn P"^'^'^^' t^^oy all consider it too light of conveyance whire all kindn o?E f// e\;ii;^j;;:^^^/»i\ry« or other monies the staves altogether too ihm. ■^Z\t'uZ:f?JT^^'\y ''""'"«^1- They consider only 4 hoops at thin .>n,i *i 1 ^ ^""8"iy nanaiec n.h^f. the hoops too few, there bein HERRINGS IN SMALL PACKAGES. qui Ja'L'r™d^uctSr t-;;;^ s'lntrS 'T^ ^^^^ ^-" ^-"^ up m packages of small size, whTcl are so d f ndt th '^ ^"""V^^ ^''"'S^ barrels, put siderafele quantities of these are consumed Zth^^^^^^ ^^"''"fe'- c5n- quantities are exported to the United sTatlwha .^/'"^•"^"t ^^ J^«»-ope, and large good pricas. Thi herring chLfl^^ used for thirK^-^^ comniand a ready sale a?d Scotch-cured herring, th'e " &n FuU -' ' ^ /^n -'"V^" ^^«* brands of the pally from the noAh and Zt coa t of Sco hn '^ k^''"'^ ^™P"^'« P"'^«i- nearlyallgoto Hamburgh and Holland The rw *^' "^f* «°««t ^e"-ing barrels and quarter barrels, there be^ J a „rei d^-^-r ' p'"P''''' "'""^ '"^^ ^^^^ that size for family use. The pacEs Sed fm th « '" ^^'•'"^"y fo'" packages of make, having nothing of a fancrappearance The 1^,.^!!'^"'" T- ^^ ^"bstlntial looking packages, chiefly of one-eitduh S one sivflSi^ 5 'tP'''^ ^'^^^ "«^*' fancy re-pack the fish as they come out oFthe ba°X th« Vt I ^''''^^' "^^^ ^^"^"^^^^ male or milt fish from the female or roe fish nntV.-n .?''''' '^P.^'''*^ *h« fish-the the milt fish into aivother. The milt filh ..^"1^/0^ ^^^ "^^^ ^'^^ into one keg and and the white hooped keg retads a ^fopnf ""^ ^.^ '""*,' '"^^'^ ^ban the roe'fish re-packing, the original line fomtVA''-"*' V'T ^^'^'' *^« '^^'^^ hooped keg In and should' there bra' deSn^J^ttari ^^i^^ T' '\ '^^^-^-^'^H should be used as sparingly as nbssib « ^IT, u^ 7 T^ ^'■'"®; but the new brine of the natural flavo? of ^lil heSnf ''^^^rk hoon«''' 'l^ ""^ '^^'' ^^">' ^^^ the white hoops are hoops made of the whit^ Si^^^ are hoops with the bark on; extensively cultivated in Europe for basSimakiJfr '"^^^'^^^ willow, which i^ peeled off". The smaller kegs are DrinctJ«n™ I •^' ''''7 ''"'^P*^' *«■' ^i^b the bark . Successful attempts hafe been mSSlT°!f ^ f,"^ ^^« ««'d ^^^^ cheap m this way for the American inX bu ifS"" Tnftf V"/!!^ *^ P'^* "P ^'^'^'^^S^ such a footing in that market th't 'some effort wClH t'' '^' ^"°^ ^"^ «««^^«d British article. The business was not nShed 1h^? w^ }^ necessary to push the a leading fish curer in Wick hrdSfd to «ni • '^'S-*'"^ ^^'^ ««»««" (1889) Imsiiieoo inH fni^ iU\ ■ "'^''^'^cu to engage in this branch nf *h^ v..- 80 low nito of freight, on condition that he would give the ship a return load of Scotch The totjil quantity of herring imported into Germany annually is about 400 000 barrelH. Of this quantity about 200,000 barrels are imported into Stettin and the export of herring from Germany to the United States h about 40,000 barrels The exact imports of herring into Holland wo could not exactly ascertain but, as already stated, the Dutch import considerable quantities from Scotland, and catch larire nuan- tities of herring themselves They export largely to the United States, principally we understand, in small packages, and probably about as much as Germany, or more Ihese small Dutch kegs ot herrings— white and dark hoop, separated milt or roe hsh— are now imported from New York into Ca..ada, at Montreal, Que., and Berlin Unt., and are much in demand wherever anything is known of them In the latter town they are much sought after by the well-to-do Germans of Waterloo County. Ihere is no mystery in this branch of the honing business Knowledge which comes by observation and experience, together with experi- euce, and common sense and good judgment, are required. In order to establish and to maintain a good character for the fish thus put up, special care and attention must be given that the fish taken to fil' up these kegs with is of f he best quality— that the re-packing is carefully and properly done— that the fish has been properly seasoned and " pinad," and that in re-pn i BLOATERS. Although we arrived in Yarmouth out of the fishing season, and had not there- fore an opportunity there of personally observing the various processes of manu- facturing bloaters, yet from several reliable sources we procurred all necessary information on the subject, and afterwards in Scotland we had the opportunity of seeing the process, as carried out in the curing house of one of the largest curinir firms in Britain. Yarmouth is the great centre of the bloater manufacture in ±5ritain, not only as to quantity but also as to quality. Although excellent bloaters are put up in many other localities, the Yarmouth bloaters seem to be the favorite bloaters in the London mai ket. We saw large quantities of bloaters in Billinffsaate market, London, manufactured in Lowestoft, Shields and other towns in En"-land In fact the bloater branch of the great herring industry is a very extensive business I fie number of bloater manufacturers in Yarmouth alone is very great and all find a ready market for their goods, although a few are said to excel, and for whose bloaters there is always an active demand by the first fish dealers of London 81 'eturn load of Scotch lino YocZ"o''trmrUUv"ofrT'"""'"^'?r' T""^ "'''«'• ^^'^^'"'^'^ '" the bl.,ater J.- .0"''"' l'»« ^f:'thl..ater carers in Ya.niouth infomicl us that one reason whv hjshHh stood HO n^'h ,n the market was, that he was always very caSl iHhe Hr^^ place, to select the very best fish for the manufacture ..fblTmtors^oorvi;.ifo other intelK^ence, good judgment, quick observation, n'nd honesty of^ur me to JeT w th akmmledge ot the tastes of the consumers; anci also whether tie h^h 7s i^auhed for immeduvte use near by or for exportation to places at a di Lnco The Lntl, an tSlnd'on ir."'""' information said that firs^t of all he reqi d^c^d to i'nmrexaX me tL^ ■ \''''^".""^''' ''"'• ''"'t '"^ t''«» '"^l ''i« Ijc^t to supply the!S A\ hen the herring have been quite sufficiently salted they are then wasLd clean on he outsule, but are not opened, gibbed or gutted. They are the^, t un on roTs and hung up to drip and dry, and then smoked. The fi el pref-^rre i n" Silain T,r moking purposes is the saw.hist, or the waste from thJ tui^inn! lathe of brch swSsmte"'irewhriT'T^*"n"^'^:?- .^'^ ■^'^'-''' *^-* th^S made the boxesc. n i^S;r in «, *" ^'"^^?"' '^ri!^ "J' *'^'" i'"»iediate use are packed in neat, light ' 1;L I ^ packages. Iho bloaters wo saw were considerably smaller than our ownhernng; they are deep from back to belly, and are an excel le^ntTs Too mS attention cannot be giyen to the selection of the herring used foi bloaters ■ind to he respective curing processes. The excellence of any p^u-ticuL.r cure r's blo^^^ no arise from any special mode of curing, but from special care and attention to4^^^^^^^ ^^ ; VYo -ii . ^ }''' bloaters were opened and split from the belly to the back bone the gills gut and stomach taken out, and the herring, without beinVwLhed cooked with the milt and the roe. The roe'furnishes pleasant citing ^ '^' offn. K • T^% . bloaters for immediate use, the herring may be put immediately aftei being landed and selected, into a strong pickle from "six tLigh houiT They ^UhTirTLZt" T''' ""•* 7/'«hed by dipping in large tubs of^alt water or ver^ ^vln^r^'TK P^ "^'•i'?'"*''*;''"''''^'^'^"^^- The tires Should have been burning pieviously, therefore emitting only a slight smoke. A few hours— six to ten-in thf m^ir"" "^'^ ""^''- '''''^ ^^'"'^ ^^ ''''''' ««■ '^"f^- l-^ packed fox the amn.S nf^i?^ •'* ^''T^^^ ^^ ?'•'*'*'« i« ^^^V^Y enormous, and uses up an immense at oTe on tLT&nl' ^f?h '^, ^'"".'^''"'f ^he fishermen and the cureJs, who realS he,T nt in „n n ^'^^^^ '^f "P^' industry, while the public are supplied with nernng in an agreeable and popular form. 1 1 '^" "i"" RED HERRINGS. There is not so much activity in this branch of the herring industry either in Britain or Canada, as formerly. The cause of this is said to bl want oAn pSion and gi-eat negligence and want of care in curing and packing the fish We were 82 did"™tIn?ml^?o^'r''"?°"l ^'■''"' ^''"'"''' '"^ ^"''^'" "f "^^"""^ ^'""ked herring, aia grout injuiy to this triulo. ° Mr Mitchell, in his book, treating of the trade in red herrings in Britain, says :- ns^l^ • ? f '" yed 1. erring. ; was fornuTly much more considerable that it now (1864)18; at almost all the pnncij.al fishing stations large buildings were erected lor the purpose ; but excepting at Yarmouth, the trad, has diminished considemblv Th.8 may te attributed to there being no legislative enactments appliS to Se o?S'il"'v? -T^f """" ""^ ''^' ''"'■'■^"S«' "' »''« «"'"« '"'"'n"'- "'^ "Pl'lied to the cur ng of British vvhi herrings The conse.iuenco has been that the purchaser can have no conhdenco ,n the quality of the herrings nor in the size of Ihi barrels, ami tl. ere! fore merchants at home and abroad do not purchase cargoes as merchandise and he curcrs, as 18 the practice at Yarmouth, must export the red herring rt'usS in this country to forign countries for sale on iheir own account In explanation of the preceding remarks, we have to quote an extract of u letter from a house which ventured to j.urchase a cargo of heri-ings to prove that neither respectable names, nor even a judicious selected-, can guara^t^'ethi merchant who buys that be article intended to be bought has been purchaso^ fm'udKarScle! t\tk"Sttle'waSh.-" ^^^^"'^'^ '"^ ^'^ ^"""^ ^''''' herrings we do not .y.J'-7^ *K'".'-«i* u^'"'*' "•^^''- ^^'^'''^''^^ S'ly^, "to quote this letter, and to remark t^l'L dff "'ties arise «s to making red l.errings a staple article, wS can bo comparately speaking, easily examined in the barrels, how much more difficult It would be If our British white herring trade (the barrels with the heSg iS in salt and pickle) were left to thefrauds,1,lunders and ignorance ofcurers. Ve admit tha the name of the honest curer might go far to secure quality in some cases but theie are so many circumstances connected with curing herrinirs that we do not know any secunt;. sufficiently strong in the most honest curer that would guarantee to the buyer that perfection of quality which is obtainable by our fishery laws '' rrnJil^ quite possible and very probable that the led herring industry has suffered from due regard rot having been given to the selection of the fish used for this nui- pose, and il may be that fish rejected for bloaters may in many oase-bn^e been fi^c4 ' lor red herring. If so, then this has been a great mistake. Sound, rejected herring 88 : Btnokod herrings in Eritniii,8ayH : — nil)io that it mow ings wore orocted ishod considoriibly, itM iippliod to the plied to the curing irchnsor can have barreln, ami there- morchancii.se ; and boi'i'ings not iisecl i3 an extract of u igs, to prove that ntee the merchant ierience, arc entitled to favorable consideration, From what follows it will clearly nppear that u very large number of those most conversant with oiir own lierring tislieries, and the gr*'ut importaiuie of the herring trade of the J)ominion, lisliermen, tish merchants, fishery inspectors and overseers, master mariners, collectors of Customs and others, were strongly in liivor of u system of inspectii.n thorough, impartial and reliable, and that the same should bo compulsory. On.* of the (lueslions sent out by the Committee of the House of Commons in 186!l was in tlie words I'ollowing: — Question—" Is an inspection of tish ncceseurv, and should it be compulsory or otherwise?" ' i >/ In his answer to that question, D. Thompson, M. P., Haldimand, Ont; says:— " Inspection is very necessary." 0. E. Anderson, Merchant, Toronto : " In the western purtof theProvince,,I speak particularly of Tonmto, tiio present niode of inspection is looked upon as of little or no value, and no guarantee of quantity, I cite an instance: About a month ago 1 had on sale in Toronto, fromtiuebec 200 bnriels No. I herring, worth in Quebec «»J to $7 per barrel. I offered thom to the dealers in Toronto at 84 nor barrel in Quebec, and would have taken $3^, but could not get a bid, the cause alleged being that they could not depend on tho curing or inspection, and that ten chances to one they would have to throw them all into Lake Ontario, as was tho case almost every season in Toronto with manv dealers. If inspection was compulsory, it would have a most beneficial etfect on this most valuable branch of industry, especially in Ontario." Mr. Dunujresq, Merchant, Gaspi Basin: "In my opinion it is necessary that all kinds of fish should be inspected, more especially all pickled fish, and that all fish arriving at any mar]e • C. C. Fox, Collector, Oaspe Basin : the G;>tSn;^3;:o^ri:;;;,;:f ^il'ii;;;:^^ -I'-'-^iy -co.a..y if that propar^r^t^;^. 1 t ^ ;; ,''. ;^^ i;'''-''-''^^^ "- United States and up in tho Province of Quebec is he w ,■ , ' I'^V.^" '"," \" T^''""*^ ^^''^ ^hat put pickled, badly barrollod a„7a m i? 7n i' ki' ' L^'"""^ ""'^^''' ''^^'/ «'«'''"«'i. •'••"'ly inlands wheij '-lu" 'en iS 0( a 1 . m ■ m ^ ''V'^Vf '""'-''•• '" "'" ^^i'i'ialon of mackerel are annua IvaZ ,u V"''''' " '"'''■'"- '""^ '^ ''''•-•-' T'^n^ity Mairdulen Inland u d ^ ;I4 £ !■ „ fiV' :T "T'"^' *"'''" ^V™ '^^« "'^'"^ "«i"«. ''J =s^;:;;|:::"S'£l ri-W'^F'^- from the Gulf and the lorri,, f n m r t i ^''^'^f"??"' f^'though the mackerel are .1.0 baityjotitLd ri'j.';.tm^onLt''.rir" "■?'"""'™ i y"" «•■'""'" -« »i>«' ...duces tho merchnVtrto%^SK^frT"''°"'''™e''°'''''.<''i"l.i"K «»d should be compulsory, as our Collector Be Wolf, Horton : " Doubtless fish exported would sell better if inspected." Collector Thurber, Freeport : " Inspection necessary, but should not be compulsory." Mr. Gordon, Pictou : "Inspection should be compulsory for exportation and the home market." Mr. Wylde, Merchant, Port Mulgrave • "Fish should be classed and inspected. Inspection should be compulsory" ^' M.Rudolph, Harbor Master, Montreal: " Inspection necessary and should bo compulsory." M. McDonald, Collector, Port Hawkesbury : "Inspection necessary, and should bo compulsory." Collector Ross, Port Margaree : " Inspection necessary, and should be compulsory." Collector Sargent, Barrington : "I think a strict inspection necessary, and it should be compulsory " Collector McNeill, Kelly^s Cove; and Mr. Bell, Shipmaster, La Have : i think inspection necessary, and shouM be compulsory." S. T. N. Sellon, Fishery Officer, Liverpool, N.S. : be coml.ulsor^'"*;"'^ '' '"''''''''^ *« t'^^'^ ^^^^^^^^^ i" - foreign market, and should Mr. Starr, Fisherman, Cornwallis: 88 Mr. Ross, Merchant, St. Ann's, Victoria : "Inspection law to be generally useful should be compulsory." Collector McAulay, St. Ann's, Victoria : " Inspection is generally useful, causing fishermen to cure their fish in a better manner." Of some 70 answers made to Question No. 6, in 1869, as to the necessity of inspection, only eight replied in the negative. Two replied contingently, not con- sidering inspection necessary in their own immediate localities. One gentleman says that the inspection should be made by .,he present fishery oflBicers of the Dominion. Another says that inspection would be very beneficial to the fishermen, pro- vided the Government would pay the expense ; otherwise, it would only crush them closer to the ground. (The fee for inspection and branding in Scotland is 4 pence sterling, or 1 cents, per barrel, which has to be paid beforehand by the fish curer, who has to give notice of the number of barrels of herring ready for insijection and branding, and to deposit the amount. Should any of the number be rejected, the fee for such is refunded. The inspection and branding is performed by an officer of the Fishery Board of Scot.and, who has to affix his name with the brand, and who is held responsible /or his work). Another, who considers inspection unnecessary says, that " the purchaser should be his own inspector, and that if incompetent, he should not engage in the trade." (This does not seem reasonable or business-like. On mercantile grounds, the seller and purchaser should know what is being told and bought. There is reason, however, to believe that many dealers act loosely in the matter of the sale and pur- chase of fish, and provided that there be a fair margin of profit the dealer is too often indifferent as to the quality. Were the case otherwise, and inspection compul- sory in the first instance, there could not be a possibility of so much fish unfit for use reaching Quebec and Toronto as is stated in some of the answers to have been the case). Another says: — " Inspection is not necessary, the fish being generally inspected on arrival in Quebec." Another says that " the proper place to inspect is where the fish are caught, packed and sold in the first instance." Another, who does not consider inspection necessary, considers that where the fishing grounds are so far from each other inspection would entail too much expense on tlie fishermen, and would therefore effect but little good. Another, who considers inspection unnecessary, seems to arrive at this conclusion from the fact, as stated by him, that the inspectors are annually appointed by the General Sessions, and are, apparently, therefore, seldom called upon to act. (If the officers were appointed by the Government this objection would have no force). Another says, that "an inspection offish is useless, as at present parties buy on the character of the seller, and generally examine a few barrels of the fish ; that when an inspection law was in operation it was of no benefit, as no one would buy on the brand, as no confidence could be placed in it, and that frauds were practised to an immense extent under cover of inspection." These answers and extracts show most conclusively the necessity of inspection, and of having the same performed by competent Government officers — and the necessity of having the inspection made where the fish are caught and cured — such inspectors being prohibited from trafficking in herring, and to be responsible for their work. If inspectors could grant certificates of inspection for fish they never saw, and were never within 12 miles of, it is not to bo wondered at that inspection has been held to be of no value, either as to quantity or quality. fish in a, bettei* present fishery lever saw, and ictioQ has been the «»^^^^^^^^ -Ai?^"^r^p^^ the Dominion Fabored in 1869, in conSnee of tL L Marttime Wovinces of for pickled herring, and a vei-V widZSZ,-! fl . .^^"*''' 5-*'' '"«Pection law existing in 1889, should be Remedied ^ '"' '^^^ ^^'' ^'^''^^^^'^ «^ things, still in th^w^ay of le\!isTatiottd'bt ^^^ been done try in Scotland, a careless neglSceand^^^^^^^^^^ encourage the herring indus- the fish curers'of that countrf ^The I)utcrw^r«T' T""^ to have prevailed among the continent of Europe Keating of th.f^f-T '""i '"/he herring markets of different modes or makh'g sal ani fommlin/fH« t1' ."k'^k""?' ^V"^ discussing the then existing laws, the Ea%l of Dandorir iTi Ii "*^ hern ng laws with our own ofSaltand|ntheHerringS^^^^^ conditi^oi^h^th 'a" ^I'taT^'St'J^Irtrf T tA" pay attention to the year. No such attention is paEn^ntainthl ' ''''^' ^'it '^ *^^ «"**««" ^^ ^^e the fish are in and the puri y Sf the salt -^e 'a 1 d £ f" h^'V'^" ^'*''' ^^^ ^^"d'*^^'^ 'all is fish that comes to ouT nets ^a,^dth[rwl^^^ '''" *be saying is, regulations be made and strictirenfoiced' ^"^' ^^ ^^' ''^^ until proper Remarking on this, Mr. Mitchell says:— salutao Lwf aTd 1^:J""":!Z!r \'''' '""^ P™^?d -d established. Wise and directions of a Boa.i ?f r ^ " ,en actln^rat'^^i'til?"'^ '^^ "^ ^"^^^''^^^ "°der the tors on the spot, watcl it tfo X^H V "^"''^7 "^^V^ P'''»P"^al men as inspec- properly cured^nd pad;eu u, suLtent ban-efs an^^^^^^^^^ enced body of men ffeneraland Kl iLrfiv ? mteliigont, active and experi- conversaniwith the^dut e devXfi E them «n^ ^t''^ "f ^"^' thoroughly 40 ^Vtf- 1°'?''^^ T^^'^y '^^ *^'^ Scotch-cured heriinss. But i„ 1857 the Dutch establuhed a Board similar to the Fishery Board of Scothind, and the Dutch Govern Botrd of S oLn)! ""t. '^ ^^^I'i'-^. % ^'Z' *^'^'^"*' '^"^ reK-latrons of the Fisher^y -Board ot bco land. They consti< tod a Herring Fishery Hoard composed of nine members and introduced a syste; of inspectionrand of ,Lrks or brands ' now prVctd r'onsid;""^""''^'^""^''*^' ""^ *^« "'^P-*^«'^ of hernng, we will THE BRA!SD AND ITS VALUE. ih. i°.T™V'''''^'i'f Scotland wo found that many of the fish curers labor under frnn^^l^^ " "^'- f '^Y'">^ °« «h«d« «^ «h«lter under which to protect the f.-esKsh from the sun wind and rain, or to protect the herring in the barrels prior to and after inspection and branding. It must be evident to every one conversan with the injurious effects of the sun on all kinds of animal products expos^o traction how de rimental to he herring it must be to have tt,o barrels elposed fo^iou s r the shallow vats while delivery is going on, and before the gutting commences and afterwards to have the herring in the barrels, subsequent to inspection, Exposed for We we^Tn? tl' "f '^' '^"''? ""•' '^."T ^^it»>«'^t a particle /,f shade o? shelter mn.W f « merchants coasts was known f^. centuries vis h^^ -ibundance ot ),e,Ting on the Scottish appeared they^eroonit^:'Z^: a,^:^:^^^^^^ of them was limited to the mere local consumntior ll-.l^i ^'''^'-J'*'"""'*' *''<^ ^'<^"»'>"d and quality of the manufactured aSKhe bS r ,7""'"? '""' '*^««'i^''"g of that brand is branch of business i^ that it w^uld be 'most infur ol t ?K 'T ^T^^t ^''P'^^^ '^ ^his cease to exist, for ScoVch herrings ieoXsohf^^nZ J; *^^ '''^"'^ *^« brand neighborhood, they are chiefly sent L^ronf^lLfn. '"'pi' 1»^«t't•es m this market and into the interior of Germany LdpS' e tier bv.'^nl'r ^^J.^^^OO miles, English, ance of commission merch^ts for ? «\M.lf ^^"'^'^^^"orotters without the assist! permit a commissionTo a ? "S ^X ' Th^« el^dTstaV/et^^^ '^""^ ^'" »«* from inspecting the herrino-s on the snot K ^h,?^?.^ likewise prevents dealers solely on their'trust in the'offic al brXd knLTn ^K'' « /""ke their purchases and properly cured-that the bLeTs £ SSf sizf a^^^^^^^^ well and tightly made before the brand can bS:^^^^^^^ '"^ *^"* '^'^ ^^n-etohe When^^^r^y prh'a!tt;t^^ ?«-'«- - this trade. receive them, if they bear 'Si and lir^fdont ^f /."'' ''* iP'"'""* ^^^ '' bound to law have frequently^iyen their deSionS^^^^^ ""^^ our courts of ground that the Britfsh Fishery EoaiTfs a Grernment'estab" ', '*"'r'"> "?"" ^^e nis iiier- receive out of 42 them, when sent to the interior; and consequently the Scotch cuter must feelit seriously whenever this brand is taken away. This would injurouely affect the trade, and seriously affect the fisherman. "In my opinion, it will be vory injurous to the trade should the British Govern- ment insist upon the trade to pay for the brand, for the cheaper herrings can be made the greater distance thov can be exported, and the larger the consumption will be; because herrings are a substitute for meat, and have therefore to stancf in com- petition in price with beef, bacon, &c. "Other articles in casks, such as oil, butter, &c., can be sold according to sample or their quality and contents can be stated; but such is not the case with herrings for It is impossible to describe each fish in each barrel, or their number, and neither how the cure has been effected, nor whether +hey have been cured immediately i,fter capture. "^ / " How could the Scotch herring trade in Germany bo protected if the superin- ^ndence of the British Fishery Board ceased to look after this ? So long as tha Board keei)s up its present haracter and brand there is no fear of a decline in the importation of Scotch herring into Germany." In je report of his visit round the herring coasts ot Scotland in 1856 Mr. Barry one of the Inspecting Commissioners of the Irish Fisheries, says : — ' " I saw quite enough to impress me with the vast importance, the great magni- tude, of the herring fishery on the east coast of Scotland. " It is quite evident that a great deal of excitement and anxiety prevails among persons interested in the trade on the subject of the proposed abolition of the branding system, and consequent reduction of the Fishery Board establishment. The subject being at present under the consideration of a coc mission appointed by the Government, it would not be becoming in me to venture my opinior upon the expediency of relinquishing altogether the practice of bianding, hut 1 should not only fear that thw absence of all superintendence would bo highly prejudicial to the herring fisheries, but would tend to diminish materially the hopes which I have formed to see the growing germ of an enterprising spirit on the part of our east coast fishermen not checked in its bud. Notwithstanding che high standard of moral conduct which I am willing to recognize in our north British neighbors, I should be very unwilling to advise Irish fishermen to resor* to many parts of the coast of Scotland if the present Fishery Board be extinguished. " Commenting on the establishment of the Dutch Fishery Board in 1857, Mr. Mit- chell says : — " The Dutch herring fishery laws have lately been considerably modified ; and the advantages of a Fishery Board and inspecting officers having beei) fully ascer- tained from the great success of the British system, the Dutch Govarnment has created a Board of C-^mmissioners, with similar powers to those possessed by the Com- missioners of the British Herring Fishery. " And again, the Herring fishery in Holland, once so successful, having gradually declined, partly in consequence of the improved quality of the Scotch-cured herrings supplanting the Dutch herrings in the continental markets, the Government of Holland wished to take active measures to resuscitate or improve the system in that country, and in 1857 adopted, and copied, to a considerable extent, the regulations which have been so successfully followed out by the Fishery Board in Scotland, and which have brought the Scotch herring fishery to be one of unexampled prosperity. For the first time a Herring Fishery Board was appointed this year in Holland, and several important laws and regulations were enacted, and among others the Crown Brand has been introduced, together with various brands and marks, expressive of the different qualities, so that everything proves that great efforts will be used to increase a fisheiy which, at one time brought so much wealth into Holland, and laid the foundation of its great industrious prosperity. " For the first time also, the Commissioners of the Dutch Fishery Board, nine in number, are required, in imitation also of oui* Fishery Board, to give an nnn"ai report of the fishery. 48 see n 1857, Mr. Mit> y Board, nine in "Several rules have been issued by the Dutch authorities relatinir to salt whioh become (lioroiighly i„»tr,.ctoa and .icqiuiinW with tl,oi, , elS Cnoniible?!, Z to object to the maintenance ot t L FislTv Zl.l ^«''f' ^ o^^'e-'s are, wore induced .AfH""-""''?"?''*''""',''?™'"''"™"' '» 'he bmnd only Jr%f.?vre J™ ' Ot the vai-ioiiB dutiea aevolv nL' iinnn the offirera nf il.,i p;.C..„ ii , .; says. and some anxiety was expressed by the more distant fish curer^ hat iXuM ner.' BuJilcr ^''^' ^^'' ^ """ *^ "^'^^"^ '"^-'^ ^« t« *he opinSL elrtatei oK£ f.r.J7^^A-^^^?^^l-^^ ^^"^ ^®?^^"' ""<^ '"^^ Other public enfraffoments prevented mA fmm acceding to this suggestion ; but in order to give all the fish cui^?b on the «w them a o,^S'"? n' opportunity of bringing thtMr views befoi^ me I ad^resid to theiT opinions "' "'"'"^ '"''"" ^"^"^^ ''''^''' ''' *^« pu-'pose of eliciting ,i„mwTfi*^if ""'' '«■'« *fi\««e queries, and from the oral replies of a considerable i:'r,Erne^fLr,;rpfo'n''(Lt?:4'^^^^ "The representations to which I have alluded as havine been mado no-nin^t tu^ continuance of the branding system adverted to the genS'^oSio^s to wWch such Hysteras are liable Jn reference to these objections I may oEv7tha the practice of stamping or branding articles of commerce by pubHc officers w'tha v?ew?n authenticate their pnuineness 01 good quality, whicLxisted inX^ ^^^^^ of various kinds of goods, has, by degrees, been almost wholly disconMnuJd ^ 44 «Kn.n T^^^T'. '"'*"'''''"^^'*.'"'S^*«^«"'"«to the purchaser that the article should not fall below a given standard, it tended to prevent its rising above that standard ; hat it discouraged the improvements of prfvute cntorprisejn much as enJeTqSi? "" ^ ' ^'^''""^ '*'"*' very difficult to pass by any differ! nf fh'I?r^ """^ "^^-^T '™^''*'' objections have been stated in various forms by such of he hsh curor. as have expressed themselves desirous that the system of branding hoiTings should be discontinued. Those parties concur in the representation that h T)lacos upon the same level the careful and industrious curer and the less ca4ful and less industrious, inasmuch as the price of branded herrings at the same t!me and place ,s uniform, whoever may bo the curer, and whatever may be the pains and ciire he bestows on the cure ; and this important point is admitted by many of those who are favorable to the branding system. "^ ^ fj.„i."i?''!*'^-^"'*-''''^.u**'!f H'^^ *b^ '^^'*'*'" "^^0 purchase at the Ishery stations make their bargains ,n the hi^st instance, with those who cure their helping, not under cover, but in the open air, which is not so good a process and who soil thfimntn cheap rate, and thus depress the price of the better article 1 n„ "f^'i"-^ comphiin that, whereas, in other kinds of business, industry, skill and honesty hav'e their reward in increased custom and better prices this is not the cTse o7tLT£/brinS."'^"''"'"" ^"''^ ^" '"•^'^ '"""•»^' «"-^' to'the'l^temng eS "It is pointed out that, although the brand is by law optional, and no one is com Ep 1 V l'^'"'" Vlry}"''^ "' ^ considerable number of^th: t.i use i^U canno be safely dispensed with by the remainder ; and that the delay and trouble necessari] v occasioned fcy the conditions requisite to be fulfilled produce mZlllZTl/d \ZyZT' ""^ T-'^rr '^' ^T '^ ™^'''^'^*«- Tl'ey complain that ?he deten Zf H f 7''^^' "^f"'"^' ^ '^ "."""b"' ""^^""y^ ^•^^""•ed before they can be lawfully branded leads to a large simultaneous export, which gluts the foreign market Some of the witnesses, moreover, have stated that the oxptrt trade to the cont nS t fo^lnT' iT 7'"''.''!'."^f "'^ ^y^^'^ ^^''^'^'^' t« '^^'''^' i «hail presently Lre par ticu arly allude and that exporters pay too little regard to the state of the demand in the con mental markets, tut export at all hazards ; and as a.i illustration of tl is C. / n',?fh^ '^'''* *" '^l !L^'^""'^^ l''-^^^ of green-that is, uncured h' h Td t ey assert that the curers are at the mercy of the tisheimen. TNote —This is i fivfl.3 ?uTerf f^' 'n Y '^' 'fhr't i^ ^"°*-'^°' *^« fi«hermcn^ are at the m rcy of' Ee cuiers, and in Yarmouth the fishermen complained of this]. They refe/ to the increase of the red herring trade, and the improvements in that braiTch of cure to which the branding regulat ons do not extend, and which is conducted on the ordi- nary principles of competition, without M,e artificial aid of the Government offlier iooting!"" " '" '"° '^ *^' '"'"" "'■ P^"^^°- '^'' ^^"*« l^^'-^-i^S t^'^de oi'the same (Note.— Wo beg to refer to the chapter in this report on " Red Herring " where 1 Will be seen tha the absence oi inspection and the branding system lias been ruinous to the red herring industry, and paved the way for all kinds of d honeSy in putting up and pieparing red herring). uisuuuosiy " ^", ?*:u'**^^''*''' ^'*'?^' ^ ^^^' bo""d to «t^te that a very large majority of curers measured both in number and in amount of herring branded by them aTe decidedly favorable to the continuance of the brand, as Compared with those who have cxpi^essed unfavorable opin bus. Of those whom I orally examined, Mess^-sMethuen bimp^on, Eober son and others, brand amongst them upwards of 50,000 barrels of herrings out of the total b.wnd of 148,000; and amongst the replies from the fish curors to whom my nnnted queries were sent, those who urged ?he conthmance of btLLn,0^irairfe -^'y --^-^) -1— ed more"th:i 46 and oared, 4t becnuso ,"u" „s thowhl,™!" .if i„ '"'-''' "'" ,"'" '.'"'>' '""'P''™'' «o rapid in its omtMion a id canLT nn h^^f T , f'mF"'S "m' «""n(-' (a process it yeiy dilScult For oS'Z„,?,„ ,?: ™ , "' »"»h large liod.os of p„,,„,„, ,„ to Vendor Usher; offlcer d'xSe Zo 711 oT'cmpT^d'' r,;ir.^;,'r, '"' Tl-'r^' 'l!" ;;er.rLSbyt,foSe";;>o^tT;il-jr« JJo^Spn-^:^Slt,i^SeS!r;Sl^t;7S^S= ^t-^ nf ^kI' T'''''* t'f e-^i'^tin^' «tate of the continent of Europe (1856) and the diminnfion SSS^SSSJ?^— ^ bit' ^^f rr "After giving my best attention to the facts and considerations which T J,flvA above set forth on both sides of this question, I deem it my du o state hat if ?h^ question of continuing the brand related only to the home trade in white llvi , • hese appear to me to be not adequate grounds for supZt ig it b t ' « "S the loreign trade, which is sufficiently larrre to be an owV of t w^?- V V-^ .^ unce to Scotland, the branding system\S\o%te"iaI-^ par ontaiT:tZ^^ ofthe working classes employed, not o::^^^^^^:^ ll; ^^l^l^^^^ 46 fbSon i^ n ru.r ?'• \"*.f"S!''"^ I ^««' compelled, notwith«tnndinff the main . u.T .^ „ " ' "''' '' '" ''"'''"' '" '•e«»'"n'«'"l that it nhould ntill bo Zl Hshm'voffl: . "0ff7^'y coHHequence, that tho establishment of the east coast Hsliory ottleors should bo CDiitiiiuod. ''I iim di8poH0(l to think, howovor," that it may l,o vvorfhv of coiiHidoration each ba TO . This would throw a portion ..l" the expense of tho o.tablishment unon tho.o who unimHuately benotit by it, and would thus lesson what is i oKHboXv would likewise oncoura-u the enlcrprisin^r eurer to rely on his own brand as th SeTnl'.^tllrnd"^'''^'"""^^''^^*^''^^'^"^^"'^^"^- ^' ^''^ contUSg 'Sn^t" t * * * * « ^ paraJn\U"'is'i;rS/'/'f '''.''°"^''^' ?^ ^^f- ^°^^^'''«' '" '^^ ««^-'"^'' '^^«t ^^rc^oing pa ig aph IS just what ha^ happoned to damage to some extent the .haracter and to injure t,, so.ne extent, the demand for Scotch cured her, ,ngs u. Stot in he I' o continental market, and to give the xVorwegians and tho iJ.itch an usee da icv^ the ormer to a very considerable exient, in thoTierman niarkets-an ."HcmuC^^^^^ gin herrings, in the hrst instance, as taken from the sea, is much inferior op the whole to the quahy of the Scotch herring, although at 'times, and eiptSuV- I ' sSain .r '^"^■%'"'"^'' P^'^'"" "^" ^'"^ ^'^'''h taken or. the north-ea?t con t o^ HkothnT^'M''TT '"^"■'"'■' ^^^"'^'^ting largely of "Spcnts." But the No weg ans like the Dutch, take very great care and pains in cur/ing their heirinc and in nack ing them, and they are thoroughly alive to the necessTty of 1 „So Tn oX to secure a share, a name and position in the markets of the continent.^ ' n,,,,.,-!^! ^T'''° "*. T.V"^ inquiries we asceitained that the Governments of tho S2n?^u 'T-" •"* J^»'"P«' h'V^ing herrings upon their coasts, are all deeply sen- sible ol the great importance of the herring industry; but from a 1 wo could lea^-n?t woukl appear that the Norwegian Government takes'tho mos^act ri^ est h the development and promotion o^ their fishery industry, and the prom tbiTof the r thTKJ '~'f '''', r""^''",.*''"* ^"terest by the wise and patern^d leSsla ion of that Grovoi-nment and the Parliament of that country, and the liberal imMud c ous expenditure ot money made on behalf of the lishinJUpuladon not on v iv Zect lo^^^fh'^'"**?f^^^'•'''■•'^^^"' ^^^* •^•^^ ^^-^^e imIrlvLentircoSuTtion ol fisheries ' ' "'^' ^''"'' '"' '^' '^^"^^^ «^ '^''' ^"S^S^^ in the No" weigian Next to the Norwegian Government, probably the French Government mani fests the greatest interest in the development, increase and protection of The heTrinl fisaing industry in that country. Much useful egislation^has been enacted an if Wy protective duty imposed by the French for^be promotilofTheir herring The Dutch Government also ai)pear to be indefatigable in devisinrr and adontino- Iv^e^y w'r''' '"' ''' ^^''^""''"^ '' '''' Sreat herring industry ii^ateount^"? «n-i /" ?'"° ^^v^\ ^''*? ^^*''' ™"^h legislation for the regulation protection SiirrXftiSf Fi";""^'lf'"f T "'^^^ ^■^- '^^'' «"^ ^^e fstablishm?,.? of he fi hmi inHn-H? f /w '••''■^ n^'^'^l ^'■"''^ ^*^«" '^^ ^^'^ 'Utmost benefit to the herring ft^h ng industry of Britain. Complaints, however, are made as to the want of' local harbors on the north and north-east coasts of Scotland, and the imposmon of the branding fee is felt by many to be a hardship. While large sums o? monev a.^ expended on harbors n the south, and for the advancement of fhe goTeSl prosperi v in (rther directions, it is felt, generally, that the fishing industry of^sS land be^ni^ very important item of the national trade, has not received from the Lee islature ha degree of consideration, encouragement and aid to which it is entitled ° ms,v£.fZf-\ • ^T?'^ Governments there is a race, and a keen rivalry for the markets of interior Europe, Geimany especially, where the consumption of^ he. rings 47 »n, protection horrin^^ tracJo and ])liico(i in the Crowi In 1888 fomt>,,r.irll,r ..f f * , . -•"|''i"«. '<■•'« «l<)i;o much to injiiro the 1 Zmr ^' ' ''"''"" ^''" ''"1^''^''^ c^ontidenco ho.etofo..e Scotch herring... BamU, Norwegian herring .■."'■ '.'".'.'. ?lI?'Uo Dutch do 1^^'^'52 Swedish do .....'...'....'.'.'.'."". ^'^J? Bornhoim, ^ omoranian" h"oiTyngs!V.V.V.V.v.'i;;;'^\\\";;;;;;;;" ^'^^,^8 "^'^" ^4":^ As elsewhere stated, the salt " THE SCOTTISH HEllRING TRADE WtTH STETTIX from Scotti.^ o «\ 188S w^s o^ v^ ^''''''' •'''' "IT^"' "^ ^^''^^^ ^'^Povted Bmm§mmm ^'1 48 obtain and maintain a «tiil better position in the markets than has yet faljon to ThiH urtlcio gooH to contlrm tho rpinionn wo formed on the Hubject, nuraely, that the proHont imfavombh, position of Scotch-cured herring in Stettin is duo to to SlTrZi'T '■ "■' ?'■"■: '" ^^^r "^' •""•'•'"« I'"*'"-" ^''«y »'«vo had time to pne or nhi nk to ,,Hon and tnaturo in tho barrels, and in the exposure of horrinKH to tho «un, both beton* Ik ing cured and after inspection. It in qui'to po.sHlblo, and we think very probable that what may bo coMsi/lered an injury to the her ing by exposure to tho su. before curing ma^ bo su.h an injury as may not develope intJ v,H ble or porcoptible dolenoration wfthin tho ton daysfthe timJ allowe TKif fi-. a..\. _«- .. charge their duties with admirable judgment is cheerfully, and even gratefully, 40 n has yot fullon to of tho buyciH. '*^" ^ ^^'^'' '^ oovoml over deceived the confldoi lonce in Scotland. the hom., market u^iT,,; . t „e t . i .P" "'" ^•^•'^ "'^""^ ^^''' ■ , Government to taUo a v ivfr m u ,.. f 1"'^'" "" ''''''''' ^" ^'«"''' "rge tho to be harmloHH, wbicl. Xv h U.n ,Sti . '"l r '' """^T"'?"'''* ^'''^'' ^^''^ have shown "On all thi.io urouncL w« r "" •■"uiorH to pu.chaho (a,..! ..He) it. brand is inoxpedh-nt m I ve !./>?. ^" ^'•" '*P'"'"" ^''"^ '''" »»«^"»i"" of the condition th..rit..u;ii ho l,X:!;j„;:;i;;^^^^^^^^^ ^" -"y I^o^dB itn continuance, on Cant. Sullivan concludeH his minority rej orr hh foil. ■ s — scion "SSon'r £:tr&J'f r ^''''fy "r *" -^- -y moBt attemptinK to continue the fl ve, mnon n p ""^''.'".f. ^^'i^nglv, that inntoad of ^'^-l.l be enti.oly w hd'uv raf H ie.W ..^^.i««^^""«•''^' "'"nner, it ll,.Jr..:^:^^^^^^^^ the trade l..ft Hhoul to depend .inon its own inniitu !il^»ii.> r„ ^ - -■•.„ fi--^", -ni mo niuni icii. my tentimony o L mo « f t L < fflr'^'^S- 'u''iV.'°. ^''« '^"''J-' ^^if'''*Y' ""^ /P'"'o» that it will materially promote and fiom 1st M«v f . 1 . ^ ^P''''^" '?^ '^^''^ "°^^ ''^'■^ prohibited being used in Torbay tiom 1st May to 1st November, and in Start Bay from 1st May to 1st October " ^^^ The recommendation of this Parliamentar/committee, after hearing evidence, selves ^f 1tirril!v "t'^T' ^^ ^Vr '""'^^ l!"4'^ "^ ^'"^ P*^^"^ ^""^ ^^ the Anhermen them- TreTeDt £ fr?m^;Jwl '^r.'^ ^^^>'""'^ ^'^T' "" ^^' ^"'^'h«''" ^«'»«t of Devonshire, are kept tiee fiom trawl and shore drag-nets during the spawning season ; and thev ShZwn tlttit u'lrT."?""'^""^.';^^^^ ''''^'' ««'-t'asit iasS montir.nJw L f7i^^ "''* ^^'T ""^ ti_«her.nen out of employment during these tS on whtl nil fJ, ^ ^"'"' ''f '"^'reasing the quantity of cheap and nutritious Sist ^^' ''''"^' "^ '^"'"^^ '" ^''"t P'^rt of the country chiefly The Convention Act, that is, the Act regulating the fishery arramrementa between France and Britain in 1843. was the firs" measure of le 'r«t.HonT-h S trawlu.gonl.e English and Scotch coasts generally. But afteVn nHea;;- exneH ence of the Act, the guardians of the British herr'^ng fisheries have n a spS 62 of a similar reo-Xtim? [n%Kr p l ^^ '^^ considered an unqualified affirmation ^r.^T:i':i::i:a:^^^^^^^ ^^*. ^ut in mo. stringent terms son, In Ssr filrmta^ ?£-/-- ^^ ^^-- Ander- by the beam trawlers. Mr Anderson 1^-!- •" '^ *' 'P""'^" ""^ ^'^ ^'"^"^^^ year" ? wf S^.S' "''-Tk ^ engaged in the fish trade in Scotland for the last fifteen Egfi'shlng^t^thl'uI^oVtS^^^^^^^ Tol-'^f ^'r' "^j'"'^^«"« tothewhTt^ introduced into th'! TTintK !p p fu }■ ^^*'"'y 't^out ten years ago the trawl was JLtisfn^f th \^Si t!^^ti:::s^'S^r^ ''' 'T'T '^'^^ "^« ^' Also, on the west ooist of ^nr.+i!„V r ;• , ^V' . ^® herrings has been the result. kno^n faS"th:t"eU;"L:^h'e'SuS"crf'rhn Lt^;^^ ^^r ^ ^v^ t ^^^ folliwing such a w se exampr Thfs Z^i^; ^'nt\-f7T'^f^'' ^^' P^'^P"^^^' «f We have no doubt, from careful obsapvatinn n-^t or!" -t (W wav K,- -i • other quarters, that beam trawling is injurious to herring s-Loali'andilaydimrni^E 58 tnraittee of the ^"^5^S?f ^^^ has ai.in. cu.|t^Kt:s^f^ trawlmg, and becamo fully convinced that it was most injurious and S'uctive t^ iSL , g«"t'eman also informed us that the local Salmon Fi.he.T Boar of which he was a member, had devoted much attention to this subject and that he v were so fully convinced of the destruction to herring spawn caS bv the t awK on their section of the coast of Yorkshire that they had deJided to apX iVs f luo the Board of Trade for enlarged powers under the Fisheries Ac^c?/ G^^ei Br L^ au homing and empowering them to interfere, for the protection of herrTnl soawn' reStc;.ha'wa7e;-s" ''^^™-'-'-^'-^ ^« regulate and prohibit their movement^ ITtS ,.,,^"'^ f convinced were the present Government and Parliament of Great Bri'n in of the destruction caused by trawlers to herring spawn in certa^tbr^L of SVotS heretofore exempted from the protection extemled to many other spawnin-.™ ?nt. v% h'-'^^k'""'^'' ^'^*''' "." *^'' "^•«'^"* representations ot'the fishemen and others ms^d bvThe PaXr' f /i%^.*^'-'>! ^^'^'^^''^^ ^ ^^ose localities an act was passed by the Parliament of Britain in August last (1889) extending the operations freE;Zs4t'oEJ''"/n3"'Pr'"^'^'^'^ '"'"^ '^^-^'^'-ein certain otheCfth: Arf r^n,i Scotland And we know from piess reports that the passing of this Act gave very great satisfaction to the fishermen and others of tho.e loca itfeswhioh had been sut^^e..ng from the operations of the beam trawlers So thTt the Hte^t ,«^Z'' "^ ^^' P/";T*^"* "^ ^'•^''* ^''^tain on the subject of beam trawlhi its K fi V"^ prohibition in certain districts where the herring are klwn to s fi'wn LTrSvto^tKS^inTsprr^^'''^''^^' '' ^"•'■"•■^^"^ '^ the^erringTsCiXaTd While It is desirable that the fishermen should be hampered aa little as possible by egal enactments, it is wise and proper, and necessary, tha^ the LeSne should regulate and control such a vast and important industry Ma? can o^ change the arrangements of nature, or minimize the great ravages oommitted on the herring by the myriads of fishes and birds who pr«y nnon it' S m-in oa? andspawn.^"'""' "" "'•^'''" ^"*^' ^"'^ "'^ ^ecklesVwaifton destruction of fish 64 In Great Britain, in addition to the quantities of immature flat finh taken by the trawlers immense quantities of immature haddock, whiting and other such fish less than the size of a small herring are taken, as can be seen everywhere in the markets, and on the tables of the people. It is also very common tor large quantities of imma- tui'e hsh taken by the trawlers to be carted away by the farmei's and used as manure, a i-eprehonsible practice, to which we shall I'cfer further on. On this con- tinent in the depiction of the fisheries of our neighbors wo have example and proot of what a reckless system of fishing can accomplish. While it mav to some extent bo true that man, by the use of fair and reasonable appliances, and careful modes of fishing, cannot diminish the general stock of herrings in the sea, yet, as in the case of our neighbors we see what man can do, by the adoption of noedlessly destructive measures ; and Mr. Buckland and his fellow commissioners in theii- conclu- sion No. 4, admit that on the east coast of Scotland the heri-ing have been driven turther off the land— no doubt by a reckless mode of fishing. How much better would It be for the fisherman, the trader and the consumer, to allow all kinds of fish to attain to s.) le degree of size and maturity, so that they may be "good for food " rather than to be taken, at such stages of their existence, as to be fit only for manure We should, as a people, guard against all tendencies leading to such results in the case of our fishei-ies. The meshes of all trawl nets, or other nets used for surround- ing fish should be large enough to allow the escape of all immature fish— and time and space should be afl'orded for such escape. These immatui'e fish are really not tit for food, and the Governments and Legislatures of the fishing nations should put a stop to such widespread destructiou. / SPAWN. Intimately connected with the subject of beam-trawling as we have seen, is the question of spawn. This question too, has been much discusised in Britain, and has not yet been definitely settled. One party to the controversy contends that the herrino- spawns on sandy, stony or gravelly bottom in shallow water. Anothei'r party con- tends that It spawns in the water loosely altogether ofl:' from the bottom and that the spawn can be seen immediately afterwards floating in the water in the sea giving ir-^ ;™jtish appearance by day, and a brilliant phosphorescence by nivht. Mr. Mitchell says . — i i j o ." The male herring has two milts of an oblong shape and whitish color : and the female has two roes, which are darker than the milts; The number of eggs contained in a female herring was found by Dr. Ilarmer to bo 36,9(50. Heriings have been sometimes found with the roe of the previous season in a bag, or covered with a skin in addition to the roe of the following season. At Thurso, an intelligent fish curer told me that in the inside of a herring he found the old roe of the previous season, the eggs of full size, covered over with two layers of fiit, and a thick dark film adher- ing closely to the back, and outside of this the two other parts fully formed, about 3 inches in length. ' "After remaining on the coast for a number of weeks, the herring deposits its spawn on hard, clayey or rocky ground, oi- gi-avel before leaving the bays or estuaries wheie It I'esorts. The female first ejects the roe, which is afterwards impregnated by the ejection of the milt of the male. Sauer describes the mode of impregnation from actual observation, and states that in the inner harbor of St. Peter and St Pr .1 Kamschatka, the herring were extremely numerous ; and he observed that on .he 7th June, the herrings made circles of about (J feet in diameter, and in the middle of this circle, at the bottom another, no doubt the female, was fixed. When the tide went out ho saw the acquatic plants and the stones covered with the spawn which was devoured by dogs, gulls and crows. ' "We have fully ascertained that the shoals generally fix in one locality for depositation, and that immediately after spawning the hei-rings proceed to sea The iiets^of the fisheimon are then often covered with the detached, unfecundatod eggs of the ,emale; but thuse eggs found loose in the nets are driven out by the pressure of the twine. The really oviparous fecundated spawn, of which we have specimens, is 55 ??= iVr^s- ::^ ^tr r£^£f ^^^^^ ^'^^^^; colour and co„Hi,.tency of c.'e ^ ^ '' Holid n.aHH to a liquid of thi a firm, umted ina«« somewh^rkl^it til 'i^^rst if rh^ T ^'^^'^^ l'^' fl«'«^> ••««omes herring. Thin lifeless mass or eL^^-kJhas the IZf^ *'• "'° "''" '" '^ ^"" stones, the rocks, the sea-weed, t- so much ?o th ^^\''''''-'^ grasps fir mly the remove or separate it '^ntil thk mn.! Jn V • ,' T\'^° ^^''''' ^"""^^ i*^ difficult to tected from L etiU ^ ofs to msS c u rt; t''tr "^'f-' '^% ^'°""^' ^'^''^ thus pro- by fishes, and firmly fixed p "obalX 'sn! Ln T']- ^-^*'"* *'■"'" ''^'»«' devoured eyesarefirstohsorvable-at'o^st iL^^ S"°""^'- Thereafter the head appears and in fbu' teen ^s o.^c^i^Lrw^^^^^^^ '" ^^'^ '^'^- ^^«" ''^^ abundance near the shore of a vorv^m.Vn^^ • ■^^^'' ^''*^ >'*"'"fe' '''"« «««" >" «reat observed to be abouti i She.l l^v Th and'^' 1" ''1 "''/'^^'^'? "^^^''^'^ "^^"'^ ^''^^ ^'re and spring, on the vaiious cons is an F n fh^ "^ '"'j?^ "' '"'»^ '^^''''^'^ '" ^vinter the herriiTg shoals, and it is kei v at th - n t'f' ?'l ^T- -^"^^ally resorted to by eighteen months. ' Lacepede s.ivf thtt n\o. ?' a '"^ ^- " 'A'" ""^^ ^''^"^''^^ ''^ '''^""t have been carried by the iSr ffi anN an ^.S /.""t'lu' *''^ 'I''*"'" "^ ^^e herring had never been frcn^ienL I by harfis n^^^^^^^^ «^ '^ '•i^-<^r ^^hich from these spawn «VmS 7;i^?//ti A^ ^ '^^.''''' P''"^^^ ^^'^ individual fis>"s 8pawn they fouud s];.awn firmly attached to the stones, and they sent up a considerable number of such stoma, of from 3 to 16 pounds in weight, with the spawn fixed upon them. The '.oitom tnere was found to be stones, shells, sand and shingle." " On the east of the May, a considerable quantity was found in 20 v'uth'ras water adhering to coarse, shelly sand. The deposit was about thret-lburth of u/i aich thick and was attached to a cako of the rough shells and sand." In the debate on Lhc " Fisheries Bill in the Legislative Council of ' jiHadM, in 1865, the Hon. Mr. Price !=• M — " The heri'ing go near ' he i-horo to deposit their «ggs, and when ripe for spawning cannot retain them any longer. Somf trmes a gale oomes on, and the fish are thrown up upon the beach. I have seen herrinj -md c:ipe3inlyim:;6 inches or a fool in depth along the shore in the Gulf, and not onlj- liity, I 0- theij- sui'wn, are destroyed." Surely, such a mass of direct testimc -7 ^hoiiid settle the controversy, as to whether the herring spawn on the bottom uj^ifiovo set forth, or whether they spawn in the seaotf thebottonij leaving the spawii .ossing about, at the mercy of the waves, thi't.de currents, and the winds. I'; is agreed on all hands that the movements of thi», herring shoals, commencing in June, are towards the spawning grounds. If they doji ispawn on the bottom, why these movements ? Because, if the spawn is merely deposited in 'he sea loosely, any part of the ocean would do as well. THB SUPPLY OP HEKRING IN THE SEA. The take of I. ^ri-ing in Scotland is enormous. The late Mr. Buckland, in 18*78 estimated it at 1,000.000 barrels. Eeferring to this, in the report of Commission of that year he says : — " Consider what tliir prodigious take represents. A bairel of herrings contains, on an aveiage, 750 fish ; but as a certain number offish are wasted in the operation of curing, 800 fish must be taken for every barrel of herring cured. In that case, 800,000,000 herring must be taken annually by Scotch fishermen alone. The Nor- wegian herring fii^hery is as productive as, or more productive than the Scotch fishery ; and the Englir:h, tijo Irish, the French and the Dutch fisheries, are also very produc- tive. Estimating the gross produce of these four fisheries at only the same amount as the Scotch fishery, 2,400,000,000 herrings must be annually taken by four nations, the British, the French, the Dutch and the Norwegian, or in other words, two herrings for everj' man, woman and child in the world. " But prodigious as this capture is, there are grounds for believing that the destruction of herring by man sinks into insignificance, if compared with the destruc- tion eff'ected by enemies over which man has no control whatsoever." " Consider," wrote the Eoyal Commission of 1862, on trawling for herrings on the coast of Scotland, the destruction of large herring l)y cod and lingalono. It is a very common thing to find a codfish with six or seven large herrings, of which not one has remained long enough to be digested, in the stomach. If, in order to be safe, we allow a codfish only two herrings joer diem, and let him feed on herrings for only seven months in the year, then 2 herrings+210 H 5117^=420 herrings is his allowance during that time. In round numbers 3,500,000 cod, s i ; and hake were taken in Scui.ui J alone in 1876. It would be, a great exaggeration ■ mppose that one cod was titwa out of every 20 in the sea, but assuming that 5 per cent, of the cod in the sea \ ( o actually caught, 70,000,000 cod, ling and hake must have existed oif the coast aui islands of Scotland. If, however, o;ich of these 70,000,000 cod, ling and hake consun. 420 herrings in a j'ear, they musi altogether have consumed 29,400,000,000 herrings or 12 times more than all the herring caught by Scotch, English, Irish, Dutch, French 67 i 0,. AiI.u^:;S?:;^r"£^;riS&^Zl^« r ^'^^'■'"?r- '' ^^ -^-«^«d that 6 heiT n;: , ;,. day, the cannets on A T , p ■ , ^^^^ming that each bii-d only takea that th.i . are 50 gnnnct, in all the .est of^omli 7{"^'' '' ^'^'''- ^" ^he assumption Scotch gannets must consume more than ^iS SoooV'^ ""' "" ^"^^ Crui£ the more than all the Scotch fishermen cS in t'ff nets '' ''''"^''"^""'"'^'^^P*'^^^^^ cw..rydescription^reconstantIyV^^^^^^^^^^ ""^ predaceous fish of The ishoals of herrings in the oceinT. n ., i ,.? ^"^^ ^^""^ ^ho momont of their birth other ,ea birds, which a>l?:oX.tyf:S^;;rT"'^^ Y ^^''^^ ^^ gulls and e.«gg«ration to conclude that man does, of H?? iT' ""^ '* '''^"'^ therefore no other euemies. " """^^ "°t destroy 1 herring foi- 50 destroyed by and ':r:ri^JZ:'Z:^t^fS^;rS\'^r' ''''''[' ''' -* --* Shetland, Of late years, however, the?ho Is rnade thof. -fn ''° '° ^'^^ '^'^^ °^" ^^^^ching them thatsome 400 boats or ^ore, vvU Ith^ corre plS d'Sf'^^^^ 't' 'T^' ^^« ^een purchased by the fishermen of the I 'ai df^ A ^^ ^k I ?■ "*'^"' ^^''« '^e*^" built and until 1889, when such extensve bodies of do "fish ' ^''"°F P^'^^^'^ remunerative . fishermen could not venture rprtheir ne?f in thi'^f f ^ ""^ '!"' ^«^«*«' that the come in contact with a net will so roll nn^LjTf "',"'« water, as the dogfish, if thev long horny spikes attach to theSnd the HiT'f'^ themselves in it, bylneans of E? . ment simply^impossible. Thes^ doS .^m- fne^ T'^ of disentangle- whole period of the autumn herring SinT'"dr.nmSf^^'^"'^ '^^*"'"« ^"""g^ho in the house of a curer in Scotland S T „ f ^^'VP^'^tely destroyed it. We were barrels, and who had sent up aSetuaX™? maT''^^^^^^ to pack 50,000 coopers. Before we left Wiclf he h id .X nl ^ i V"^^^"''- barrels and salt, with 5,000 barrels. This serious L I hfmseKd^rtheL^h"'^ ''''''''^''' ^" "^^'"'•^"g by the continued presence of the do"fi"h in Tuol " -t^ -^'^ '^''' '"'"""'^ ^"*"'«'y be coasts, as to render herring fishlnrimpossib^te 7'^ «*" «'^tent, ol looked upon as the natural enemy not oZ of thl h..? W'^ therefore, may be and the herring curer When th/dn^LT/ ^ l ^^"'ng. but also of the fishermen tail half as clefn as couKe die Sthe^^^^^^^^^^ '^^the bites offi in a net, the manner in which he roUs himself un^tL ^^en he gets entangled wuh^hnn, . simply incredible. So the^ ^ZZl' Z^oZ' ^.toTl S^fd^ t"h1 ^^f^ compared with ^-^y'SStt'^S,'^.^^^^^ nets has, it carried 24 nets made'of hemp e^h net 40 ^aSn, ■^•.u o^'"*^ ^^^^^ ^g'' a boat yard, 10 to 12 score meshes SUpLdlveig^h'^^^^^ '^'!^^^^ to the boats are larger than then^ f^d tn rh^J.^a I .'^^ ^oat carries now rthe with 35meshL to the yard ; IsLyr^lTjt^^^ boat, in other words, used to can-y 960 ^, 'J. L^.^^'P'-^^^.'^^'ghmg 12 to 14 lbs. A ii 58 600 lbs; the 33,000 square yards of cotton netting, now, weighs a little more than 600 lbs. " Without increasing; the weight of iiotn to bo woi-koil, each boat has increased its catching power five fold. There are more than 7,000 boats in Scotland fishing for herrings. These boats must, in the aggregate, have nets 23,000,000 yards long, and certainly, in the aggregate 230,000,000 square yards of netting. The Scotch iierring nets would, in other "words, reach in a continuous line 12,000 miles. They would go more than three times across the Atlantic from Liverpool to New York." The concluding woi'ds of the third last paragra])h will, of course, be road subject to, and in connection with the fact that before his death Mr. Buckland changed his mind as to man's ability to cause an appreciable destruction of herring by an unnecessary destruction of spawn. Mr. Mitchell, who has made the study of herring, in all its phases, a prominent work of his life, in his book in connection with the subject, and preliminary to his insertion of a letter by Mr. Cloghorn, of Wick, makes the following appropriate remarks : — " The fecundity of the herring may generally be supposed to make up for the great quantities fished and destroyed by birds and the finny tribes; yet it is unques- tionably a subject of national importance to consider how far the Legislature should further protect the growth of the herring, and prevent all unnecessary disturbance or destruction ol'the shoals of heri-ings and their fry and spawn. Wo have stated 'different causes which may tend to diminish the supply; and it will bo seen by the letter, of which we subjoin a copy, from Mr. Cloghorn, of Wick, a gentleman who has paid particular attention to the subject, that there may be reasonable grounds for all due caie being taken that legislation shall be applied when necessary. We see, almost every session of Pailiament, new Acts as to the salmon fisheries, which are comparatively of much smaller value than the herring fishery. The following is the letter referred to : — " ' Wick, 7th October, 1856, " 'Sib, — Since you have taken the herring in hand, allow mo to give you some facts which may be of use to you. There is no subject that more requires eluci- dation. "'In the " Quarterly Journal of Agriculture, and Highland and Agricultural Society's Transactions" for June, 1839, you will find a good paper on the herring by Mr. Mitchell, of Leith. Please turn it up and read it. The herring is much more local than you fancy. The reason why they are found appaiently suddenly making their appearance on the shores is, that they just then have matured their mdt and roe, and self-preservation is then lost in their anxiety to preserve the species. Then milters and spawners come together. Till now they wore bent on individual preser- vation; each was on his own hook; they avoided nets and other dangers. Now all sense of danger is lost — their only aim now is the preservation of the race, and when in this state sudden destruction comes upon them in a cloud of nets. '"We have on our shores races of herrings that wo know come to maturity in July, August and September. Up to 1851 we took yearly on an average 20,000- barrels, but in July, 1851, we took 30,000 barrels. This seems to have been their culminating point, for in July, 1852, we took only 7,618 barrels; in July, 1853,. 7,829 ; in July, 1854, 2,396 ; in July, 1855, 2,664 ; and in July, 1856, 2,977 barrels. "'Our July races then are done; we have fished them out; we have all but extinguished them. Wo are now doing for the August and September races what we have already done for the July ones. Of these, in 1856 we were only able to take 90,000 barrels, although we brought to bear on them 19,000,000 square yards of netting, the greatest cjitent of netting ever used here. In 1855 they affoi-ded us. 135,000 barrels. " ' If the herring belong to the waters in which they are fished, my conclusion, that we are extinguishing the races or reducing them so low that the produce of the fishery will be less than the outfit, is not so absurd as some would insinuate ; but it 69 > more thau 1 incrciised J flsliing for s long, ami teh herring LMioy would ■k." •oad subject langod his iTing by an prominent inary to hii* ippropriate up for the t irt uaques- ture should disturbance have stated seen by the tleman who bio grounds ssary. W© jries, which le following r, 1856. e you some [uires eluci- .gi'icultural neriing by much more nly making ir mdt and cies. Then dual preser- rs. Now all B, and whea maturity in i-age 20,000 B been their July, 1853^ 7 barrels, ave all but races what mly able to juare yards afforded us. conclusion, (duce of tha late ; but it ing the races, iTiit that tl.oy should ku7o lasted Ilon^ T , . /r""" ."™ ?-''^">S'"«'i- year expancling. in conseqj:ence of the ^htis :n.^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ the finest and most extended nottin.r In 1818 H 1 . "^ff- ^I n V , ''*^ '^ "**" ground in wh'i/^;i^^''r"'"*" ^'"^ ^"'"''^ ''' ^"'''^''"'^ ^as settled the character of " ' I am, your obedient servant, "' JOHN CLEGHORN."' THE MOVEMENTS OR MIGRATION OF HERRINGS TWor,^ various accounts have been given of the visits of the heiTin^ upon our coasts tehl' A T ^' • ^', '-'"'f ^' ''"I ^•^'"^ ^^^«"t'fi° ^^0''J^« «till state, thaUheCrSg comes f«™ netghborhood, where ,1 j continue and whore they fell until the"mwninj MitoaersirL^ssv^^ z^!:^ - tij-sf £ 60 the sea, penodically make their oiipoaranco off t'apo Wrath, the north-west point of Scotland, Mottin^r in to all appeamnco from the noitl f 'uiing tlm land divid- inir ih.o two irroat divJMions. tho limror onn t'..'.-.,. ..M.i< , , t .il,.n.f d.,. .„,... u ^<« ' ' ing in.o two groat diviMions, tho larger one Scotland, and tlioni'c heading southward on th jirogroHH, tlie other and smaller wing taking drm, iho west coivst." liy the time these herrings readi Wick llioy are generally pretly full of roe and milt. Whence do tliey come, and for what piiiposo? What become- \.i' the fiy from the s])awn dopuhited ort the east coast of Scotland? Do they remain in those seas, or are they led by instinct to return by the Pentland Firth and ijio Orkneys and Shetland to the winter Barry, a men»' - ■ of the on liija b abject says: "^ "The steady periodical resort of the great shoals of herrini^'s to tho east coast of Scotland, for tho last lllleen years, goes far to contradict tho general belief in tho capricious migratory habi Is of tl; i< Jish ; but althoui^h thoy keep their ground upon the shores of the North Sea, tV. y frequently vary their position, sometimes abounding on the shores of Cuithne s, and as far north ns the Orkneys, and some- times on tho shores of Abordocn, Kincai-dino, Forfar, Fife and JTaddington, and as far south as the Tweed. It is n jbjoct of groat importance to the tish'ormen to be made acquainted speedily with tlio most favorable localities. Along tho whole east coast there are stationed intelligeui officers, whose duty it is to communicate con- stantly with headquarters at Edinburgh, and the facilities afforded by telegraph would enable tho authorities to keep us infoinied of the movements of tho fish." In the debate on the Fisheries Act, in the Legislative Council of '^anada in 18G5 Hon. Mr. Lotellier said: — ' "The subject of the migration of fisli is not yet well understood. There is an annual migration, but it is not so regular that we can base calculaticms upon it. As far as the heri'ing aio concerned, they do no*^ fiequent the river no.v as much as they used to do. The character of the shore changits, and the fish go elsewhoi-o to spawn. Near my residence the sea carried oil a sho.al, and there are now very few herrings caught on the shores of the parishes of St. Denis or Itiver Ouello. Iii Riraouski the fish are now itioi'o abundant than they used to bo. In Tdmiscouata they stay longer than formerly. The changes in the bed of the river and the constant navigation of certain channels are the chief causes of tho difference." FLUCTUATIONS IN THE MOVEMENT^ op TII^. nERRINO. Mr. Buckland on this head says: " It is worthy of remark that the herring fishery in time past has always been liable to remarkable fluctuations, over which man apparently has had no control; and there is no reason to suppose that *he fishci s vill be exempt from sucli fluctuations in the future. The herrings, wit liuut any assignable cause, iiiive suddenly left whole lochs, or even portions of the coast for long periods of years, and have afterw.ards, equally without any assignable cause, returned to them. V\V .-ecoivod accounts of such occurroncos in numerous places in Scotland, but the,-, iluctaations in the herring fishery are by no means confined to Scotland alo Tht same thing has occurretl in Norway, Denmark and other countries. Theru no idenco that it has been due to excessive fishing, and we are boin.il to concl • tl the migriv tions cf the herrings have been, and still are, subject to laws ^ .ich m.n up tu tho present time has been unable to ditu-over. A failure of the fishery at any portion of the coast ought, under sucl I eircumstances, to occasion little or no disquietude; on the contrary, as in times past, the herring has been variable in its movements, it is reasonable to assume that its movements will be variable in the future. Failure, therefore, in particular places, even though protracted over a series of years, ou^ht not only to bo regarded with equanimity, but even to be expected. It is possible however, that in the case of the naiiow firths and lochs of Scotland tho groat increase in the number, length and depth of the nets may have some bearing on the fiactuations." Gl On tliiM Hiil.joct Mr. Mitchell eays •— of several foot, n.ul nalt a.,.1 caskH failed f he p;u.i<..r.. The esi o wa" C • i I .w for manure hy armors in tho nei. hl.urhou,!.' Strange To na^ h evi • X^v oi TPo Further, Mr. Mitehoil Nayn:— «n tjilT^^^^J'.''^' isvorveaprieious, and has been driven away by iniudieious action (LkI « , ^^T *" ^V'"''!^*"! KroundH in tho north, the British CVmsul at (.othenburg, Sweden, addrcHsed to the Earl of Derby the following letter:- " BuiTisH Consulate, Gotiienburo, 4th January, 18Y8 larLJldnd^X/rV^'"' ^^'\^T'' !" r«P"'-t t-tt great nhoals uf herringn, of tho largo kind, which disai)pearod from the coantin 180!», have now made thei? .nnem anoe agamno, th of (;othonl.,ux^ on theeoastof this countrv.^hin^ forma oi'K to tins fountiy during the former herring periods with shins to trade in tliis •iiliell I may here make mcntmu that my own lather, Thomas D ff, a na iv^ , 4^^^^ and cooper by trade, came over to this country to teach the ,Swe,lish no, le 1 o art tn.int'tot.,;£rt. ^^""^'"^^ ^^'-" -''"'«« -ere seen followi/,i tlie shoals of " I have, kc, "The Right Hon, tble "F. W. DUFF. '•The i of Derby." THK IIERRINQ A TIMID FISH. Mr. Mitchell says : — tho ln^]l IImw!'!!'.' 1 • ^'"^^ capiieious fish, and we have before stated instances where Wie shoals have h(H3n driven away, such as from the Swedish coast and where thev were scared away by continuous fishing, night and day, and the shS^'ver returned " K«in " ^^'^ '^'^"^ "^ j"'l' r"'^"' '"P*''"'"**'"'^®"^"® w'^s the cause of the shoal of h m,i£? aMdf..«fi?"'''7''''' Ht''"'!'-' '"^? other gregarious animals, are easily Us urbed^ Si. tunts."^' '"^ ^' '^"^ ''"^' '•" ^'•■"^'" *''° ^'"""-^ ««■ '» ti>« 'onv.e !r time from .n.../^f\^^? """i '''^V'"i»'.''"f''*;',^ ^°'' ***^ encouragement of the herrin- fisherv on the coast of Ireland— Mr. Mitchell quotes clause 15 :_"And whero'is nhnl^Une^LZlZ are frequently frightened from'the entrance of the bt;s nd n'.k^by UIcIb mof ing and shooting the nets at improper places, and by shootin- loZ lin/s «f tTi entrance of the bays and creeks, ^no Vessel on the Ust of Poland shaimoo.'or ^' <o ifi. ^o net shall be shot or set on the coast of Ireland durin^'"''- ^^ ap|,oarH\hat in Sweden thiH ha.l Hometimig to do m ncanng away the tinh, uh above rofenod t., Mr Mitchell hayH:-" Those voshoIs whieh. after guiting the herring on boarri th owtlu.reuHe.Mto tho sea, ought „ ■ to bo pern.itted 7o tish whe..o tl,oreTe ho ring «hoa k; and this law ouglit to be enlbnod by the Duteh (Jovernmont (whose tisiiing ve.sHelH cure on board), wiiich might order that the portionn taken <.ut of the homngH at gutting bo barreled up for u.e, for the purpos'o of making oi" fo? manure, or lor bolii purpuseH. « , i lut „-.l,ni^iV^\'""'«^!l*'''7'"'''^'V'"^n'"'/'^^^«''""'Pi-''''- t^ l«n waH about as groat ho M .f 'l '" '^' h'""'' ' ^'"'.^^' }^''°^"'"^' '*'" '•^'*'"^^' "'■ *ho beiTing which hud been ?ho « a 1^'i r 7 ,'!>'""'' '"' *'? P'""'"'^" of obtaining the oil, to reach and taint the sea, the shoals Ictt," and as wo have seen, did n.,i return for CAI years Mr. Mitchell further says:-" We are of opinion that any operation which lritv['. t " ?r?l*'^-lKu'''^. '""y ^'■''■" ""'"3- '"• diminish the shoals, such rrJe of" "'''""''"'' ''/^. ^"'"^^ *''« '''-•'^''' ^^•''«" they are unable' to bo 1 t n . 1 '■""^'^'l"*^"':'' f ^''«"- ,W'''«''t, throwing the refuse into the sea after gitting the herring, as is done by tho Dutch busses, or allowing the refuse of the OH ot the herring to go into the sea, as was done on the Swedi.sh coast. CLOSE SEASON FOR HERBINQ. T^rif/'w-'' 1"*"*!"" Of a close season for herring was very fully discussed by the ^ntish Commission m lb78, and much evideneo taken in relation to the point The tish-curors were almost u nanimously in favor of a closo season for herrings. So were !^1'?7k 1 M,^'^'"™*'": 'V*h other witnesses, to whose opinions much weight was attached. Iho Commissioners arrived at the conclusion that it would bo impossible to/idopta cose season in respect to the herring, chiefly because tho sailie close season would not suit every locality, as tho great shoals or armies (-fherrinirs appear In til T T'T «f Scotland in the beginning or middle of May. Tho greSt lisllerv m the Minch, the sea between the Long Island on the west and the Mainland is pro- secuted from about tho middle of May to tho beginning of July. The fishery on the east coast commences about the middle or end of .fuly, and continues until the beginning or end of September. By the Act ofl8(i0 (23 and 24 Vict cap 9'>) a close season was instituted on the west coast of Scotland, but it was found to vvork so oppressively on the fishermen that in 1865 it was partly repealed by 28 Vict ^"P'l 1 The Commission strongly urged tho entire abidition of the Act, and they l^^^^^l u Jl"" objections which may be urged to a close season more than out- weigh the benefits which would result from it. WASHING HERRING. ih. Z^l ^»8tJ°f 0/ salt herring is condemned in Britain-the curers holding that the brine formed of the salt, the blood and the fat adhering to the packed hlrrins helps, contrary to an opinion at one time prevalent in a very marked decree to preserve the hsh and to jotain all the delicate flavor and the nutritious qualities of the herring— and that the use of the proper quantity of salt and the exclusioi of contact with the air of the atmosphere, the chemical action of the salt is suffic at to prevent deterioratio of the brine and tainting of the fish. The Scotch curers consider that tjie washing of herring before salting is most detrimental to the fish injurious in everj way, and destructive of the quality of the herring. The only 63 iS^t7'or%X"'^' """^ '" '•""" "••^ '^"'•'•^'^ "'^^'- Packing. HhJul.| .1.0 .i^h ;.p,.e«r ROtJND, OR UNOUTTKD IIERRINO. ,.„,! /'^'V'"^''' "* ""0 'i'"" " w>ii^i- « -..t. ,„■ ti.. ;;;^ Iti^n^ '\ ^ C,,'!"n.n «?''"' 'v' "V'^r "'" "'^f'i"^'"-'' I'^-nini,. <-o,nnu.,u.o,| i„ the iiiDarulH ami that (l,o lislunmoii ..r Hicivliof woro rla" Hint wl.u ii.voMto.i ll.o nernni/ uhH'Mjffore ratisfd thrm to spoil murk t' ■' ''-' writ,.,- nays :_•' \\V uant only .nn^.^.M" to cnrythiM trade entirely from the Dutch, and one of the Kreate.t w..uid he t< m d u ear vherr.npfashionahle. Ind.rd. all hners of U.cir coS^ o Jht o Lvrthem on their tables in the month of July, if possible." ''""""^ ^''^"^ to have them BORACIO ACID. fl.A,/i/^ *"*•''' ^'"'1 •*''" >^'"'w«ff'"n^ ""*« ''"'•'icic acid in ciirinK herrin-s, hut whether hey do HO in eomh.nat.on with salt, in the lar-e barrels wo cannot saf. 'in Kdin ur h however we met persons who ha"^".™^Vh"^" ''"'S^ P'^''«ion of the milk used in that city wis tr;iiik^r; Jin roir '''*' ^'^ ""* ^'^^""^ ™''' ^^ ^^^^ -" "'"-j''"'--^- THE HERRING INDUSTRY OF THE DOMINION. The herring industry of the Dominion, which has attained to very respectable proportions, in which a large amount of capital is invented, and iiVwhichTla < e uZtrrA!"''"'" "'^^ «"«^-y ,"•■« f "^'«g«d, is kilown to be at present in a Iniu d a^d unsatisfactory condition. Tho demand for our herrings has been checked hi conse- quenco in many instances, of tho inferior quality ofUie herrings placo^northe market, and ot tho packages in which thoy wore contained. This inferiorit/of our fish does not anse from natural causes, because ti.ere can bo no doubt that the herrings on he Atlantic coasts of the Maritine Provinces n.e equal to tho herrings of any oHtv'!>i''',.l'"V*'''''-'''''"*."'^' r^''T^ *•"' Ln,.hfy.e herring of Scotlan.l. The inferl niriU r n^''''"'^:.i'v:P'^;^'^ on the market arises from preventible causes-tron- meSt Th-'"^ of ho fish, when taken, exposure to the sun, deficient curing an"l ^^tlh 1 -T^'' 7"d.tion of things is well known to the. retail dealers and the consu- mers and it IS admitted largely %y many of the lariro dealers engaged in the trade ^LTTr^ '"'^' to the questions sent out by tho Committee of the Dominion 5X ^ ^ «"'?•"' '" ^u^^' ^""^ '''^''^* '"« ^'-^^'^ '•«^«"tly learnodof the views of many rLtA '"^ "^ -f "^^':^h'^"^« «" this subject, show this. This knowleclgo is encoiJ raging, because it implies -operation, and tho co-operation of all concerned in th« ^ mStnuL! naToSSai;. "'^'" '' ^'"" ''^ ^^^""^"^ ^"'^"^^'•>' "?«- -tisfactoryi 64 This indiiHtry with us is very much in tho condition in which the herring ;!;«"17 f Sp"t'""d ^-"^ oye'- 1«0. years ago. A Scotch writoi- in moXron-LTtl the state of tho hernn- industry in Scothmd at that time, says — ' ^ It 18 very plain tliat oiir not succeedinn; Iiitherto(inthe he.Tintr fishery) in anv degree proportionable to what might be expected from the possession of such advantages has been owing rather to want of care, to want of di i-ence to the wint H ,tho,.;;v?;o'''"r' '" ?' r^"' ?^«»ffi«'«"t capital, and finally to thfv;. Jt of . JiZr author ty to guide, instruct and inspect the conduct of such fisheries These and these alone must be the causes of former failures and miscarriages." an I Again • In the live years from 1779 to 1785, ^lotwithstanding'all the expenditure ofpubhc money and the enteiT^rise of private individuals, the herrin- fishery for ^14-;an;l •' ' AnJ";;- ;' -'^'^^'""^ -Porintendence, iiad nearly c^ased^be^ "From the irregular manner of curing herrings at that time on the Scottish coast no progress oi^any importance had hitherto been made. Akhoig abundan e of fish might have been caught, the ignorance or dishonesty of curers in i^pa W nifer.or hsh, pu up in unfit, inferior packages, with inferior salt, preventeJ herr nS from being received with favor either at home or abroad." "erun^a At that time Scotch lierring were generally cured by the fishermen tliemselves ?^iti f r*"""^' *''' 'T' '' '?'^ r' ^' ^•^P'^^^'^^ '^^^' th^^-^-J< would be weT done' ?n 1 ' rn "^'*""««' ^hc great pork industry of Ontario. What Avould it be if every farmer cut up, cured and packed his own pork? Instead of doing this, he brings ft to the market in the carcase at the proper season of the year, and soils it to the work packers, men who have facilities tor the work men who h tve knoudedge of^and experience in the trade who can divide the carcasses into the dfferent grades required by the trade, and who can put it up in a uniform manner, an in accordance with the laws and customs regulating that particular and important industry Mr. Bruce, of Frazerburgh, told us that his father was one of the first fish-curers who made the curing ot herrings a special business on the east coast of ScotS and that as soon as the business of curing and packing was taken out of the ban is of the fishermen, and performed by a new class of min, devoting their capita hek fm to^attS.] Vo h''-' TF "'''V'''.\'' '''r''''^' ^°'^^'"^- the^tishermeil m' t e i> r nZril If f K ," and nets the_ character of Scotch herrings at once went s;>ywere"fii:s^t';;r''"''''^^''^^^^ ^" ''-"^'-y ^^^-^^-^ - -^^^^ ;.nHif^?r^'°'''''''^"''^'f^'''''!'''"'''"^'^"'l"^*'"y°f Scotland, in its earlier struggles and its hitoi. successes shows that well cured herring will klways find a markef and dem.md'fin^'s^'tf. ?*""•' "^ ^"?''"^ '' indefatigable in its eff'orts to increase the demand for Scotc herrings on tho continent of Europe and elsewhere, and to this inl ';^'|«;^' fheJ^^oreign Office in London, it has been the means of procuring mnch use il and important statistical intbrmation as to the herring trade in the maXts Uni.tlsS^ "'' "' ^"''^"' ^" ^•'"■^^^' THpoli,''Tunis,Turke;,andthe 60 sent^ourfmm''^Srf'n" ""'"'^f *" the circulars of the Fishery Board of Scotland, 60 sent out.tiom British Consu's abroad, show, that notwithstanding the great etforta ofthe Norwegians the Swedes and the Dut...h, and the temporary ciTock to th^ Scotch herring t^i-ade in Stettin, there is still a large demand forCci r d hl.T ng on he continent 01 Europe and elsewhere, proving that properly cured and well FeStM;-SM"Mp'''r-^'1 "''"^r* V"*;^^^'^'^- !^f- We^iman, A-om wC lettei to Ml. riaill, MP London, we have already quoted, says that a large portion of the herrings imported at Stettin are .sent inland 800 miles or more ^ her,.inV.' .In *""''''" ^^'^\P««P'« "^'"S far inland from the sea must 'and will have and pSi d •^' '"'*' P*"'*''"^'''' ^' to quality, and must have them properly cured 65 REPLIES OF BRITISH CONSULS. iV.. .^''O'n tJie/Jply of tho Consul at Vienna, Austria, we learn that the increase in 1886 ?S; 'uf.'^'f '^ herrinpin that city amounted 'in 1887 to £23,000 moiohan rnllll ^^\>",S '>*^^« hernng all bore the "Scotch Government Htamp," as it is there called, and the endeavors to uilroduce Dutch horrin-s thei'e had failed Scotch bS preferred, and that those herrings all came from'stettin, also hat bloat^^ En :' witi eiC;'^. Bergen, Xorway, showing that bloaters can bel bng aisranccb with perfect safety to quality and sale From the reply of the Consul at Brussels,' Belgium, we learn that sniokod m- red herrings packed in barrels do not find sale' thefe, but^Lit ?l ey nit be S sio Thr..-'""'«"r^K^"^ '^ -^"^ ^^'^- ^' '^'«" »PP«'"--^ ^l>^t a consi/renble amount of £r!llV '^'' hnd their way indirectly into iVelgium through Holland where the barrels are unpacked, and re-packed by the Dutch Tn small packages. ' herri,r?^n .-hM??^ of the(;„nsul at Copenhagen, Denmark,Ve learn that Norwegian herring caught in the autumn, and put up in packages of various sizes are preferred to SCO ch herrings, although the Norwegian l!orrinis caught in the s^i ^ of ho ye^ are not liked, because they lack the requisite fatness. ^ " "'oyear Irom thereply of the Consul at Paris, we learn that Scotch pickled herrines ?he FS'.'^'T'r-^''"^'^ ?T ^T'' ^y "^^ i"^POsitionofahigh^duty also t^t «n?Mnf. ™;''T'r!'''.'' ^"r "''^"^' ('" 1^^^) to lower the rates for carrying Sh and increase the facilities for through traffic, so as to give a better market to fS or lightly salted and smoked fish, such as bloaters, kippers and o he™ n Bordeaux the general preference is for small packages of pickled lish ^oiacaux in Gtiv?Z.h "'"Pr"^ • '^' ^''^ ^?T^ ''^ ^t^'"'"' '^ 'H^peurs that the demand for herring in Geimany can be increased by careful selection and curing of the herrings and putting up ,n small packages. The designation or classificatio^i of herr m at Stet«n "Ttt Ss'- uid -re^" '-Tr" '"."""^ --: t^"? ^^•'J"'^^'" " U"^--l^^ Fulls -'SpnS," Mat les and Lewis, thus showing that tho " Lewis " herrings— that is the western coast hen-ings-are on account of their excellence, rated as a dTstinct cias of herring , Irora Genoa Italy, the British Consul reports as follows:-" As far as mv information goes it would seem that Scotch fish as at present packed will ever s^ll freely; but 1 am toM that there might well be a cmisi.leiJble market for Scotch herrings, picklocl u, brine, if carefully prepared and brought to market n a nice- looking, atrmctive condition. The Italians are an artistic people, and li" 1 Z wi h i^^ '. ^ ■'"?■ ^ •"* '" ^ -'"^^ P''^">'-" (-^^^y »«t t^i« be thi cise to some exte ft with the people of ouier nations, too). ' 'oo^Yieui, In his reply, the British Consul at the Hague, Netherlands, says .-" It apnears that in consequence of the present (1888) low Jrice of Dutch salt herrings, and die r rattL'h?!""fr"^^'^-'-' compared with those iured in Scotland, the den^and for ho atte has so fallen ott in Ins country that tho total importation is reduced to 500 or 600 barrels annually and that unless the Scotch cui^rs can either succeed in m impromne ex,™utTl" '" ""•""°''' '° " ^"■'■'" "■""""" S«»"«»J 53 ycar» ag», and to know^to 'b°fh°"calo° S'whilf ,'7r '" "" '''""5 "*" '''» ">"■" •-"^P'"i="ce, and a« we lon.f ,,„„?ir 1 ?' ,"""•"'""■'"»" ™'eslii» m"" flail it is (loiw Ivitli the X' mv"^ un »';,Zol, °^ft »l"',r°,""'y P""? ''"° "'"' ''"""" "'■ «!>« "'«>". nto^ yuuej , paj iiig up 80 much of hif, indcbtednesH to the former he feels no mnrf> ir,f»..nc,f m the matter; but it i«dirterent with the merchant omu; -lis can t^ Id -S.Ht and h.s good name are at stake, and unless his h.h aSp op m'Iv cu,' 1 Swi be tt lo er. Thus the .strongest of all motives, self interest, m u d Suce 1 m to cui^ and put up for market an article calculated to render a return for his outh™, '"' '"^ .- («0, That there should be a chief fishery officer, inspector or suncrintendfint having jurisdiction, under the Department, over all mWteS o? de ail e m'n I to £ i^ a siSi^ on^;!^:^ o^^ o '''' '''' 'l^^H'"^' ^'•«^'"^^^' "hose bus^Ss il Zu d D^in association with one or more of the most experienced and most intelliMvoald communicate to him all necessary local information having ref(^'cnce to his ])osition and the duties of his office mioimation lo such an offi.cer also, in the first instance, at least might be referred for settle ment all disputes arising within his jurisdiction having refe, en?; to tlio heir nt S« f T r '^'^ "''■^' '^ ^^r" ^'^"'^- ^" «h«''t> '•i'* "'holt" time would be gl^en to the task of re-organizing the entire business, under the law and the regilSis of the Department and of securing an improved and uniform system iSl irPro- vinees as sncedily, as economically and as effectually as possible wheifJ,: • r "y.u^ imported and established in each sea-board county W t I .'"M'ortance of the herring fishing may so warrant, a thoroughly trained fecotch herring coope,^ of !o„g experience in the herring curing business wi^) should act as head inspector for bis district, with power, after'instructions, lo 'appoint his 68 deputies and who should be responsible for their work as well as his own in inspect- ing and branding— whose duty it should further be, within his district, to exorcise a general supervision at all points where necessary, over the curinir of herrin"- the proper chissihcation, selection, packing, inspecting and branding of herrin'^' to examine the barrels, and to instruct all herring coopers in his district in i-elatiok to the mechanical and other duties devolving upon them, and pertaining to their occu- pation— such county inspectors to inteifero in no way with the existini; staff of fisherv inspectors and overseers. "^ (c.) That there should be imported from Scotland, for each such county one crew ot expert herring-gutting girls, whose business -^ should be to go from station to station teaching all concerned, willing to learn the art of ffuttintr selecting classifying, curing and packing herrings, and rc-filling barrels preparatory to inspection, as practised in Scotland. i i J This step we consider most important, not merely as to the modes, but also as to the expedition with which the work can be done, especially when we learn from a reliable source that in some places in New Brunswick it took four men ei-rht days to put up, in a very indifferent way, 200 barrels; and lour men over four weeks to put up the same quantity in good order and style— whereas, as already stated an expert crew of three Scotch gutting girls, can gut and pack 80 Scotch barrels, equal to 100 Canadian barrels of herring, in one long summer day. If the v/omcn at or near the several herring fishing stations in the Dominion, and the youn/x lads on the herring schooners were taught, so that a crew of three of these could gnit, cure and pack even oO or 60 barrels a day, or more, what a gooil work would be done and wliat a saving oi time and money would be effected. In this way not only would the women at tl.e large stations be taught, but also the women in small hamlets and out-of-the-way places along the coasts, where the catch IS so small as not to induce merchant curers to establish stations, fishermen then- wives and daughters, could be instructed how to gut, assort, cure and put up herring so as to claim the brand for home consumption. Such an arrangement would be of incalulable benefit to isolated fishermen on many parts of the coast These gutting girls could thoroughly educate all the women on the coasts in the art ot gutting and packing in two or three years, and might, if the Department saw fit, bo allowed to work for some of the large curers, when necessary, on such terms as might be decided upon, and so reducing expenses. THE BARBEL. 3. That the present Canadian barrel, being too weak to stand the rough handling to which it is exposed on the railways in transportation, should be sreatly improved. We think the present capacity of the barrel should be retained That It should contain not less than 200fts. of herrings, exclusive of salt; that it should be made of^ stronger material ; that the staves should be of hardwood wherever possible, and that if spruce is permitted to be used, the stave should bo thicker and stronger than the present stave. Fir and pine should be prohibited. The rule in Scotland has been that the barrel might be made of any kind of wood, fir excepted. Mr. Crordon, of Pictou, in his answer to question 4, 1869, says :— " Hardwood is calculated to retain the pickle without souring it." It seems very probal)le that a fir or pine barrel^ may "sour" fish or other animal f.od packed in it for the first time. It a new pino barrel or cask be filled full of pure; water, and covered up and allowed to stand for some weeks, there will ho formed in the water a pretty firm gelatinous substance, which, if allowed to remain for some time, becomes very ottensive, as has been the case often in regard to pipes made of tamarac and pine used for conveying water underground, where frequently pipes with a three-inch bore have been nearly clogged up from end to end with this ofionsivo matter If foi-m °"^' ^^®^'*^''' '""'^ *^® P^f °-^ ^''^''"*^' ^^'^ gelatinous substance will not again The Scotch rule also enjoined that the heads, or cuds, must be in pieces not exceeding 8 inches m breadth, and that when the herrings were barrelled up, the t)9 I'll, in inspect- to exorcise a P herring, the P herring, to in relation to to their occu- ;taflF of fishery li county, one from station of gutting, I preparatory , but also as .^e learn from Ml eight days lur weeks to dy stated, an barrels, equal i^omen at ov ig lads on the L;ut, cure and le done, and ?ht, but also 3, where the s, fishermen, e and put up arrangement fie coast. its in the art ncnt saw fit, ich terms as d the rough Id be greatly lined. That hat it should lod wherever thicker and The rule in fir excepted. Ilarilwood is bailie that a ' for the first ered up, and pretty firm econies very c and pine, a throe-inch matter. If ill not again pieces not 3lled up, the heads should bo observed. Tl o now^t mKrd b^i o^^ w 7'" T, ^"^ "'"'^"'^ *''« SMALL PACKAGES. d.»ooun,g„mo„t to tl,c „,a„„,a»t„ro of tlii prSt baiTel *" consequent in .1. ,,^ f '"'■''',■. """■° """ ''" "" ■'»"'>' 'hn' a very large Liioinesi can h« ,i™« Continent for herring put up in this way. ''"FF^y '^lo acmanu on tins CUE':ni, 0," o?fi,:;™s ToTn'Sh'k": be[,",."°r^^' ""r " "a"a-,".'r lx 'ii^i ' „•:: arj ici'O ore liminary salting be so necossaiy, and so mluta necessarv is if, in tlw> Vfoj.jfirp^ Pj.....jf^j,-- _ higher. In order, therefore; U. preserve u;; herring fVom inci^i^nt ta^ and^V^tdn rin results in Hritain, how much m mmer uch 70 all tho delicate flavour and natural excellence of the tish, it is absolutely necessary W LnVl ^ "^T'^l^ moment, the curing procosH shall commence, and that the herrinir Lo scrupulously shaded and sheltered, from the damairjng effects Sf the sun- throuo-hout all the stages of gutting, curing, packing, &c. this is most important beeause injury caused to the herring by exposure to the sun can never be remedied The injury sustained by herring in this way, is beyond the power of man to remedy. Inordinate quantities of salt soaking and washing in water may cover up the damage done and prevent further taint, but the lost excellence of the fish can never bo restored i A? ""'■!'■ ^ ]i° '^'?"^* *^''* *'''' ^'''■''^ ^""^ o^'t'i« i"i>»y sustained by the herriuLr of the Man ime Provinces is caused in this way-and if this can be avoided in the future by the adoption of some feasible inexpensive measures to protecc the herring from the sun, from the time of catch U. the time of shipment, a great point will be gained and much done to redeem the character of Canadian herrings. The next step in the curing process IS the -roosing" of the herring after gutting, and the proper ealting of the hsh when being packed. ' ^ Should it happen that the preliminary salting cannot be effected before deliveiT then tho herring should be well sprinkled with salt during delivery. The Western consumer is about tired of eating herrings, out of which all excel- ^nce has been extracted by soaking in water and over-salting, and if these western markets are lo be retained the quality of the fish must be improved, and that at GUTTING. n.^ ^" ^- *V ^''^' ^^"'^^'^®^\ t^f Scotch mode of gutting to be as good as any for all commercial purposes, and all that can be deei.'ed when properly c'arried out and the curing propc'ly attended to. In Scotland the early hex-rings are very tat,' and are EvfJ^w ;. ^^'V''''h h«r''ing« which Mr. Mitchell s,^s are in^uch request by the wealthy families of Russia, and they are hurried over to Stettin ftr immediate sale and use. A fish-curer told us that some of these herrings sold in June, 1889, for £10 sterling ($50) per barrel. There is no material difference in the mode of r-udng these he.Tings. In Canada, however, it appears, that in the case of fat herringt caught in July and August, special treatment has been found necessary Mr Gor- anH'inK^^,?« '".• ■"''l-^'''''^ '""'''' experience in the herring business in Scotland and in ^ova Scotia, in his answer to question No. 4, submitted in 1869, says ;— "I beg to advert to the only additional detail, which, in my experience, I have discovered as applicable to the perfect cure of herrings in the months of July and August, on the coasts of Nova Scotia. Having engaged on my own account in a sailing vessel trading on the coast of Nova Scotia and Cape lireton, and provided rureV-? fpvv'h 'f ' f.' ^ JH'^a'T^ purchasing the hei-rings in their green state, and cured a fey barrels after the Scottish manner. On examination of thifish after beinir struck, i discovered an incipient taint along the backbone of tho fish, which would increase with age, so as to render them unsuitable for a distant market in a tropical Climate. J came to the conclusion that ihe taint was owing to excess of temperature here over that common on the Scottish coasts, and besides the herrings are larger ;, ; w i*"'""/. '''' V''''^'^'^V'^'' ' '' ''^'!''1' ''"'^*^' ^''" '^^^'y «'»■ the fi'^h. and filled the TivJ™ :7! ' ""^^>""»*^^ •'^•e'j P'l^'k^^ thorn in tight barrels, with one bushel of i^iverpool salt to each barrel, and protected the barrels from sun and rain." Another gentleman, 3-eplying to the same question, says :— " Herrings should onf " P T.*^ Tl} ^ ^""^' ^"^ ^"^^ ^"'^^ '^^'> «tl»«rwi8e tLy cannot be propSly M, p ,^h'«^,^tt«^ statement, as applying to all herrings, set-ms rather general, i T } only recommends this treatment in the case of herrings caught in July and August on the coast of Nova Scotia, when the fish are veiy fat. Even then i^ can hardly be possible that the belly of every herring need be filled with salt To lill a hei'ring with salt must effectually destroy the flavour of the herrin,'^"- entirely adapted adoption and its legal enforcement w^S ? ' ^ ^T^ convinced that its general HngH a very high%ta brd Td T .foV- ^ *''"' '''^'^"' Canadian her- hold m voryiw SstimatSn We have /iv fn thil tv. T ■'^''',! ^? ^^^''^^' *^" •>■ '-^'^ ^«^- convinced are wo of the vital imnoit\^,crof n.nn^ so and rain, that we would ag-a n K ti 't e£?vT. ,'• '"""^' '"^^ P-'^'tection from sun these respects, as vvoll as fo he Juaitv«ol!f ^'^'^f^^ ^^"^ ^"i-'o bo exercised in first instance.' It is most dcslTwe tt,rfte'«^? ^'^'^ ''^'^Pr^^^"" ""^ ^''« ««h in the •should be handled an^ shifted as lit as no 'ibr^'^ ^ ^ - ''"^ ^'^^ ^'' ''''''' over they part with a portion of he scale? «n 1 "' "^'^''^^i^^ ^^ey are turned flabby and less ready to absorb the salt ' "'^'^ ^^^^o^^ softer and softer, more smaH"pX-rvo;;'g^.::?;!S.e^shoS bc> ;t^%'"f *^^^ P"^'^"- «f repacking into in everV respec . In Hdland iml S cot -wl " 'I ^'''^V^« ^'^' «^" ^he best qSality fulls." the hfghest brafds are tatn for tMs' "Z^rlT '^tk"' " ^^^"^ " '^"^^ ''«''«-" done well and neatly and the kegs as alreadv st?t. P fi"', 7''*^ ^'^Packing should be the large barrel out of which thTfeh has Iwnff^^^ ^'I^iy with the brine from ''' 'SZt?,\ri.r .^^-4 tie'r-^fte^Sng st^if h?S'^"^ ^^^^ ^ pork, not manv f.imfli J,^i " J?...'"-?™"."''?'."'''':™ "teie is so much boef «„rf ;•! 72 If the Dutch and Gormans can afford to pay freight and shipping clmrffos on herrings from Scotland to Holland and Germany; unpack and repack into nmall packages, pay freight and shipping charges to New York, and sell these herrings in Qiioboc and Ontario, with a good margin of profit, surely the herring traders of the Maritime Provinces should be able to supply herrings in'this shape as good in quality at lower prices, and with a better margin of proKt. By supplying a proper article this branch of the trade can be increased immeasurably "both in the United States the Western States especially, and in the inland provinces of the Dominion. ' BLOATEKS. 9. We have already also fully described the mode of curing bloaters. Great cai-o should be taken in selecting the tish. The herring may bo ])rotty fat, but should not bo too lean, and all unsound and inferior fish should be carefully picked out The salting and smoking must be carefully and judiciously done. We believe that a laro-e and profitable business can bo done in bloaters from the Maritime Provinces, if proper arrangements can be made for curing, packing, trans|)ortation, distribution' and sale throughout the countiy. By the use of refrigerator cars on express trains at stated periods, the mildest kind of bloater manufactured to keep without ice lor three or four dajM, can easily be delivered at Toronto and all intermediate points in time for sale and consumption— and a bloater intended to keep without ice for seven or eight days can be delivered all over Ontario, while a bloater intended for use in ten or twenty days, can bedistributed in Winnipeg and all along the lines of railway in Manitoba and the North-West. In England, as we have stated, almost everybody eats bloaters. This is a most desirable mode of curing herrings retaining as it does ail the delicate flavour and natural juices of the fish— and these' increased by the peculiar mode of treatment. In all tiie towns and villages bordering on the railways from Halifax to Calgary, a great demand for bloaters can be created bv the exercise of intelligence, energy and enterprise well directed, and the production of a good article. The business should commence on a somewhat small scale and gradually extend, as the demand increases, as the business is better understood, and as the machinery for distribution and sale throughout the Dominion becomes perfected One point to be observed is not to force this article upon the market, but first to ascertain through the larger dealers as nearly as possible what the demand may bo; to meet that and no more, but to meet it as it gradually increases. In this way there will be no surplus stock left over, and therefore no temptation to sell an unsound article to the injury of the trade. In England we wore told by retail dealers that they very seldom lost any perishable fish, because they had their regular customers and received only from the supply dealers such quantities of bloaters as they knew their customers would at once require. _ We consider the neat light box in which bloaters for immediate use are put up in Britain, containing 50 herrings, a convenient and desirable size. Small packages This is a ai-e easier handled and easier disposed of, and do the fish more justice, j.,,,:, ,« u branch of tjae business in which by close observation and good judgment, perfection can be soon attained. As stated elsewhere, the degree of salt'to be given must be regulated according to the length of time the bloater is intended to Icoep, and the smok- ing should be graduated from the pure white color of the herring to a slight yellow color. The smoke from the sawdust and verv fine chips of birch is pi eferred as it makes the sweetest bloater and increases the delicious flavour of the fish. Great care should be taken to keep down the heat in the smoke house. The fish should not be cooked there. They should be thoroughly cooled before being packed in the boxes KIPPERED HERRING. The mode of manufacturing and putting up kippered herring for the market has been fully explained already. It involves more labor, and more exact treatment consequently fish put up in this way sell at a slightly higher price than bloaters! Although the bloaters are an excellent fish, and used in very large quantities in Brititin. the kippers are even more delicious eating, and are in groat d oinanu, espoci- 78 bo carefully sdootcd, and all , n.oS si^^ f excln-lod. WolnwoalroudyH.at 11 ,w """^ unnuitaMo fish pared for the market, and shinn « L. v "^fl ' ^ ^u'"''^ ^'*" ''« 'opporod, pre- thc delivery of the horrin,! tJ ^^e tu ''' a''^;' T ' '" "'^"'.SV "i'"^" '"».r.s fVoni are made to keep for Hhor?er or 1 m^^^^^^ the case of bloaters, so kippers quality of suit and smoke used Tl ,^ ado i M •^^'•'^,^ "»'">» 'loj.ondin- on the increased to very larLrepmiwtionH in tin ' ^'''J•^';^ ^y judicious action, can bo careful distribution,^ ll ^^o 1 zvmu "p. S''J"';|- .^^^>"^'<^'""^ mana.^emont am? from Halifax wostvv'ard a tra le wit^ . i • i T'° "' '^'PP^i''^ can be established fiHhermen, dealers and c::.li\;\'^^^^^ X^^^^^^^ l-ncHt to the trade u. kippers will use up a la.-o ouant^ of " .In " ^"'n'"'''^' cloveloped, the expe. lent to import Homo kippe"oll"d ,?.]?' '',?n" annua ly. It may bo found and cleaning i.erring, for tluA.anu actu re S' Ij^; f ' '''^'"■"^' "'^ ''' "^'^^P'^^ting BED IIERRINUS. boon seriously injured in Britain ySc5vIl^>^l^^^^ "^ ^J'" ^''''''^ ''"'"^''-J bas pack.ug and that this condition i^f thnsVro /.;/'"' fT'*^^ law for the supervision by the lishorv pR,! ' *^causo there existed in Britai,, no this subject Mr. Mitchell savt-'weh^f^^^ a-cl inspection of red herrings. On to explain the cause of l^e dlmiS^of the n '".^f '' ^/*^^'^ ^^"^•'^' ''"^•^•'^v'O'^^^ former years was large in somoof t^ tow', 'S" tl f '"' 'r,'T"'^''^' ^'''^^> '^ t be curing process of red herrings the assor^om of n /« ■^' ^^^^ U^"own, that in the barrel, are not in any way sub ec 6/^1 ^^"'f,.*^'" ditterent kinds, the size of bomg no law yet applicable tl the cti n.. ofreiT^^.^n^^^ °^^^'' '^^^'^ has, therefore, very much decreased. heiungs ; the trade in most places and the herrings impronerlv mc -Pr]^^ iK ''V T''"" ^''^' ^^^ ^^'^''^'els two small have quite diminishlC n 'nj^ h cu, eJs a '[ll''' *' ^'^'t''' ^'^'' ^^^^'^'S" ^ounT; es Hhip the greater part to the Me.Hterr" ^n fo s. ""''?'''/"'V Ya-'mouth, have to Buch shipments. We consider thiti/ ho '^l!ti *'' ^""^ "^^^" ''»^« considerably by Board under proper loLrisl'u on hi 1 V'f ''«^'"."fe7'"-o were placed by (he Fishery bo largely incVea^^d.'^^^ot inr or ^"o '^^^^ for consulnption Abroad wo u?d will tend to destroy the whole tiSe " '' ^ '"^''"'''' '^•''■'''' *« '^ f'^^'ciyn port, smolIr,!ri4samSl::;i:SVSHi^V""*^" -nsignmont of inferior trade for some years to come Wo a^-e o f on?;, on 't'}^''""'''^,^' "'^^^'^^^^ "» in:portaaJ be established i'n the Dominion by ca efj E tion r P tl" ^ft ?.'' ^>^"-^"« ^''^^^ '""^ discretion and good iud-mont in J-i im 1^ f • the hsh, the exercise of u wis"e enactment of a^-udiciou^ironi^^pSnt'fh'lnt !" '^"^ «-«' ^h« and in the Western States, an extensive mUlwi' f W'^ "?'""'^ provinces, as for herring put up in any other vvay •"' ^"""'^ ^"' ^'''^ h«^^'i«g> as well adapSr trEi,;^;? s^i^^rs:^' ^,::^r ?-r ^^;^^^ ^-^' - -n too can. AVe think that red herrns should bo n„. " '^ S"^ '^^ *«« ^^^^ "hither or slat made, open boxes, contah/in>?00 r5o\^',lllT ^' ^° ^'^'.^i^'i^ i" hampers convenience and demand may ndicuteC; ^^1 '• T^' "''"'''' ''^^^ ensure greater care in curin-/ ami ™tor ,m -f '".'^P^^.*^"" '"^d bramling would quantities of rod herring re sX i,f£omlon Vn"'/ "'Y '^ 1"''^"*->' ^^^T l^^ge tha^ under proper regulat^nrthe rod hSt\^u^ '^'^'^ "■■^•" b« °o doub\ m Canada, as also to utilize very large quaitftie" ShSg '" ''^^""^ ^""'^^^^^ 71 11. OANNINO OP IIEKUING. Through a letter of introduction j»rocuro(l for uh by the High Commissioner ''iwliory Offlcor, wo wore courteousiv Hhown in London, and accompanied by the local F ^ ^. . through a canntuy for herrings in Scotland, where some' 400 hands are cn'iployed This establishment uses up an immense quaMtity of herring, all of the very best quality, and of medium or rather siiiiill size. The greatest care is exorcised if the selection of these lish. They are put up in one pound tins. Herrings put uf in this way are very delicious, many people preferring tliem In canned salmon. The girls wlu. clean these herrings and ])ut them up, do tluir work very rapidly. The herring canned at this establishment are not for sale in Britain They are all exported to the East Indies, Au-stralia, and the Cape of Good Hope. It is gratitying to know liiat a herring suitable for canning is found on the coast of Cape Breton, and that a commencement has ah oady been made there in the canning line. Xo doubt herring suitable for this branch of the herring industry will be found on other parts of the Atlantic coast, and that canneries will be established in other places. After we had gone ov.r the establishment in aon and the brand, which is, so to , . . , '''■' establishing the herring tishing industry of the Maritime Provinces of th. ^ -ainion upon a sound and permanent basis, as one of the gi'oat commercial interests ol the country, rests on the adoption of a rigid system of inspcctior., and the establishment of a fixed standard for herrings. All other measures that may bo adopted with a view to accomplishing the improve- ments necessary in regard to our fisheries industry should be carried out as being merely preliminary to the establishment of a judicious system of inspection as the ultimate aim, for without inspection all etforts' to improve the herring industiy will amount to very little. We all know of how much benefit to tho farmers, the grain dealers and the millers of the Dominion have been the establishment of the present grain standards and grading of grain. A thorough knowledge of tlie grain trade, experience and skill in tho handling of grain, consideration towards the farmer and the grain dealer, co-operation and persevei'ance have been necessary to bring our grain standai'ds to their present state of perfection. So in like manner the co-operation, the consideration, tho intelligence, the patriotism, the technical skill and the practical knowledge of all concerned or interested in the development of the herring fisheries of the Dominion are required in oider to bring about the necessary reforms in that industry, and finally to establish the necessary grades and standards for herring, and a wise and judicious system of supervision, inspection and branding. Fi'om the answers made to question No. 5, sent out by the Committee of the House of Commons of Canada in 1869, it will be seen that the majority of those who replied are not only in favor of inspection but also ask that it should be compulsory. They all feel the very great importance of this matter, looking upon it as the only means of resuscitating this drooping industry and placing it upon a prosperous, satisfactory and enduring foundation. From those answers and all the other evidence before us it is clear that there is at present no standard, no system, no uniformity in any degree as to the modes of treating or curing honing, but that every man does so in his own way — indifferent to results if only he can dispose of 76 his flsh. It alHo ap|)t-iirH fiom tlion. answerH that Homo of Iho merchants .i,.nli„.^ in hornnghave 1..,. Indiflor.n. a. t<, tho -luality of ,ho L <^u^om^u%^ th vl3l\ '"r,''H' 'V*'"?" "T*^^""". ^^^^ trannferrod fro.u LuZhu^ until t h(,y final I3 road, tho hands ot H.o retail doalor, who Ikih to tiico ihc comsu,,,, An. hoonlymitotythoconHmnor now ha« i. in tl.; dotornnruttion of ma, t. muc 1"^ no moro U.vviu^. unt.l tho ,,uali.y Hhall bo in.p.ovoH It is not credi b^o to the trudo hat «^«ta, .d in one of those annwors, conHiMomontH of herd.. « «hoihl o landed at ( „obco lit onlv ...r manuiv, or, a. stated in^nother answe ttt vv ole • io doaic-H in Toronto should have to throw ha-o quantities of Lower P rov incVSnLs int., LaUo Onlarh) «uch transactions are 'destructive .0 tlL trad" n 1 3 damagmg to the tisi,. rman b,va..se they dest, ,y all confidence in .1 e mn^ >• oH L w?.i i?'„r- ''''^ "" ^""""'^ ^'" '^ Htanio and healthy article t vvh ch would otherwise be in request . moro or less, L> almost every family Don In on and by thousands ni the Western States of America ^ L»onnnion b..ine ot those answers reveal a difference of opinion as to when and whore the .n>pection should take place. Wo , onsider that it should take plZ v .^-o tlu hlh A\e think til,, the period for seasoning, maturin- or "pkiin.'" tho horrini^ aI' ' 7 ^'" '"^ "^ '"'P?' '""' ^"""'^ tl'e time oriirinally allowed in Scotland As we have seen, howev,-r, u.idc a pressure of commercial exigency the nmTivn, so tht;r 'l""fi )^^ "'" ^"'"'"'•'^i"''vr ""•!«•• legislative sanction. 7edum to ten day so that the fish carers, or some of them, might be able to realize on Bills of L-i K five days earlier than under the old arrangi^ment. i^aUing n,«,.n?M /'"/!'' '-"^ """/■ *-^'Kt'"^y could not uriso in tho case of our own fish nie, clwu.ts the circumstances being quite different, so that u few days more or ess in tie matter of rcalizuigon the fish vvould ,K.t put our dealers to any inconvrien^^^^ We think that the rosu ts of the ten day rr.ie, tills year especially, i.f^ eqi'ence of to in eiior quali y of a large portion of tho c/tch in Scotland, havrb^een ^-y intortunate, and have teiid.'d to biing tho ^rand into disreoute in iuTZ,l.Jl Ited'f t'?^'^ "''""'^"" ''''f'' ^''--'>^ quo;ed."our 'owrqi. ion s S eaX stated, IS that from exposure to the sun or rain, or from other in urious con uc n^ causes, incipient de orioration may fa' place and yet no- ho apparent withi the ten days, while such might unmistak.,.bly manifest itself in fiftVL Tys We are therefore in favor of fifteen clear days between refilling and inspection ^ flffe, fi I ."' '"?^^t"^" '!»'! branding should bo done by tho purchaser and after the hernngs have been landod at a distant port, would beunreasonalZand un- nkcr^n 1' h'' ^?r^' ""?f.''t'^i". Ijecause in such cL the inspection mig t neye k^ place, and the old condition of things would st ill obtain. Eut tho herHiJshould he inspected at the port of cateh and cure and by , he inspector under vvho et uper^sion the hsh have been put up. To hold otherwise .vould we fear, indicate ind ffeVeTce to he true interests of tho fisherman. Herring fishing is a precarious business at best. It 1.S doubly so where the industry is not organized and l^i ed on strict com mercia principles. Many fishermen ai/never able ?o get out o fd:i: ?f herriilre" worth catching they are worth curing, and if worth curing at all thev ire wo b curing well, and upon the most approved methods, so that through tLsupiXS a standard article the merchant may have such a demand for his h^h as to establish the relations between himself and the fisherman on a .ure an.l permanent bass and IndnZy " ''''™"° *' ''""^ **^ ^''^ '""^^^ ^-^^«"* '^' ^^gi^™'-^^- zwaz"l of hTs In the meantime there is an educational work to do, the work of instructiuL'the fishermen as to the changes and im],rovements necessary and preliSary oS e introduction and establishment of the brand iciiminai^y 10 tne in sufmised Vn7°5r'tl "^f""' " • T'^'ir'''" ^''^ '^' '"•^"^' ^l'"""'^ "»^ '^"^'"tion. Tt loHi! r '", '^'^n«'^<5™We quantities of pickled herring inferior and badly put^p, are annually imported into Canada and, in many ins^'ances si as ^, ^^v >.<►.-• IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-S) ^O ^ A fk 11.25 2.0 w liO 1-4 11.6 HiDtjpgraphic ^Sciences Corporation 33 WIST MAIN STMIT WIIISTIt.N.Y. MSM (716) •72-4S03 'S' >,v ^ 4 76 MOVEMENTS OP THE HERRING and in »m„ p],L „„7£V;;™ir„°;;uri:';j"."° "l""""'"* "'"" "'» ™™tl...fM„y, AMERICAN TRANS., VOL. 2, PAOE 237 south' s s NoVa^^s:!,';" lrM"rLu'Tv"'° 'f '"" "f ^p--'^^" '^'•'-^ «« ^^-^ althou,.h taken in coltlo.ibli qSitio" -' ^ "'' '"'" ""'^ ""' ™"^'' ^^'^^'"^'J. Fox iS! a'^^nlTdta^bl^^^^^^^^^ faL"lr ?^to '^ •".?"^; ^•^«'' ^^ -- herring aro' of good ami exceilenZqualit^.'^ ' '' ' '"""''^' "^ ^"^»"^"- ^hoso McGreijor's British America, Vol.2,pp 171-172 thesJlTeS b^iieStifiZ' ro'diE.n'tt';!;' 1 ^ '""" V"^ ^'^"^ ^"-««- that the shoals of horriZ Sh m, ??, hi '^ T' ""'""'• '* '■* ''"''^'y P^-^^^^ble Carolina in January ^rerhoJlo « met w hTlhi ^J^^^^VT^ ""' '^^ ^""«^ «f shoalH. Is it not more Hkeiv fl aT tl.« m?^ l^^- . "'" ^'''."^' *" *'^<' '''^^ "^^^ '"fe' may be. but the coZe^!S„S^a'gorn 1 m^^^^^^ ""' C-"''"" of herrhgs tVom the deoths of tlm Atinnf;!. "!.,•' '''''"'y "'"^e'ved and studied; and that special at- tention to this maf tor might be g.von by the officers and men of the Government c^iisers.an.l of the local shipping engaged in the fisheries of the Atlantie coast, as muchin^)rmationotausefur character, bearing on the future develoi.ment of ho herring fishery, may be procured in this way. i « ^ j luo Such knowledge would have an important bearing upon the subject of the pro fhftnL -fl '"'■'■'.'''^ '^'^''^''•'«« ;. •''« 'ostiou of spawn; the operations of trawlirs; of the ' " '"''"'^"^ eu-cumstances ; modes of tishiug and the development DEEP SEA OU DRIFT NET nEUHIiNU FISHEKY. nonu/Af?*" If'*'. "'".^'I'b; 'lescribed the mode of herring Hshing on the east and west rd-HnoT. !!.'•' '"'". ' " ^":.'''I";:'" «' ^^r '"'•''« "■"' W^, known as the deep sea, ?,Ln,. I •?""'-'■ ^^ " '''"''^"'^ *" ''«"^^'" ^l>''t this mode offi^hing cannot be in I'p n';! VI '"i ',"r '"/ '"1V;>' l^'"'*.'*,"'; •''« ^""^^^ «f ^^^^^a Scoti«. New Brunswick and 1 inco Edward iKland. The establishment of a deep sea, or drift not Hshery on o r Aflantjc coast is a matter of the utmost importance to our Hshermen, seeing that all the evulence on the subject establi-hes the fact that all kinds of fish are gradually receding from the sL,re, and that the inshore fisheries are yearly becoming of less and loss value and that unless a deep sea fishery of herring can bo established, the position o the inshore fishermen will become very serious and critical indeed We are glad U> observe that some scraps of valuable information, bearing on this muttci-, are at hand and to be found in the reports of some of the Fishery Inspectors and Overseers et the Maritime Provinces fbr 1887. ON.rseer Sellon, .k verpo<>l Nova Scotia, in his report says :— , *^. ^>u^J,, " Herring and mackerel were plenty outside, but did not come into the harbours ana consequently boat fishing was a comparative failure." Overseer Mcfiill of Sbelburne, N. S. sa^'s :— faihir"'^" '"^ '^''* ""^^ ""^'"" ^''*' '"''■^^"'" "'' """"'' «"''' "» a ""csult, tlie fishery was a Overseer McQuarrie of Sherbrooke, N. S., says :— „,* u •^J';',"""^/'^'' ^'"^ ^';V *''? "^'"" J^'pendence olfishermen on this division, and the catch of these fish was rather below the average. Lato in the season, large quantities of herring appeared in some places, and remained a few days ; but the quantity taken was confined to a few Of late years both cod and heri-ing appear to "e rc^cS fiom the shore, and small boats have been unsuccessful in securing large fares Bait which was formerly caught in abundance inshore, has of late to be sought after at considerable distances out, in deep water." b » •^«' From the report of Inspector Duvar, of Alberton P. £. I., for 1887, wo make the following extracts: — ' ' "Actual proof has this year been obtained, of tho correctness of an impression wluch 1 have frequently expressed in reports and otherwise, that the coasts of Prince hdward Island might be made the seat of an extensive fall fishery " "Along the north coast especially off King's County, herrings were seen this fall and some thousands of barrels were taken, equal to Labrador. According to appearance this fishery has only to bo jjursued with energy to attain large propor- tions . . . . Were this fishery established, its ramifications would extend far fishermen would have employment after mackerel left." "The hands now engaged 'in lobster packing, would fi'nd equally profitable employ- men in the various nrocesses of the herring fishery, as is the case on the coasts of bcot and. Teamsters, and other persons on shore, would find no falling off in their employment, while cooners, &c. would see their business largely increase With an increasing energy this business would organize itself . . f I am very saniruino as to the success of a fall herring fishery, after a beginnimr has been ma-ln Li m conversaiioi. with several nrms interested in tho fisheries, there seems to be a growiilg belief, that tho herring hshing will, some day, be of much more importance than the 78 lobHtor IJMliery ever wuh uriy the Ik HmIk it. iu't8 ,u.d a l,ott.>r (■ ,WH of boats aio Mi-omivy. Wevo nticl. a p..nnaiu.nt luMiinif «Hho,y (lovolopod ,t w,. 11 Id 1.0 mainly, n Canadian industry, with littlo to four fur cotnpotiti..n with the United SfatoH. AUImmikI. I l".vo no ^^reat faith, in tho principle ,!^iS'."^. ^" «■""'. r '"'f.''^'•^•,"'"••l''y of consideration whotluT a special bonus rniiiht not be offered for a limited term for the development of tho fall hcrrinir fishery 111 I lie j^iilt, ° "^ TlioHo wordH of Mr. D.ivar's are in harmony with tho opinions wo formed on this subject, from our observation of tho horrin;,' llshery in Scotland vi„.„ 1 r.' ^'"r ^''Vr'." '■"^■"'"!'1« circiim:4anccs, rcfbired to by Mr. D.ivar, Princo ]'xl«ftrd Inland would bo a^ood locality in which to commence experiments in diift net hshinK, we think that experiments should m.t bo confined to the cast of that Island, a hough there seems ittio reason to doub. that such a fishery could bo rhir;/^^.'''"^t^' V'"'"- ,^^° *»'i"'^ that experiments with a view to deep seu diift net fishing should be made along the entire Atlantic coast o!' tho Dominion. V\o tliuik that such oxpo.imonts and tho preliminary expense would be more than any combination of our hshermon could bear, and more than any syndicate of fish merchants would be , for the advancement and t.ro- motionofthehshories, but itwus not until Parliament took the matter up as we have already soon, by wise legislation and tho introduction of a judicious system of supervision and encouragement, established this industry upon sound commercial toundations, that any real progress in tho development of the fisheries was made Tho bounty system then gnidu.illy fell ,„♦.-> dimise. The bounty system is not so much in favour now as it was then. In Scotland, at present, the cry of tho horring 79 r fisliory drift iH'iit liiTrin^ tic to four for I tlioprinciplo special l)onu8 3rring Hshery. iVo formed on )iiv!ir, Priiioo noritK in drift coust of tliat ory could Iw V to deep hgu 10 Dominion. I>c more tliiin tiicato of tisli tisliinj^ busi- lio Mihject 18 ortaken nnd 1 the Dopart- lin, Holland, volo|)in,if and re can liu no thiH end we the class and armony with i prosecution )gother wjtii 3 skipper for •f Scotland — n amoni^ the thoroiigliiy sts. As fast not tisliing, 1 theinselvos to teach lier 1 nnd built, to test and sx|)crinients, ncn individ- uil wealth of ig industry, of bounties ; ^nt and pro- sr up, as we IS system of commercial i was made, m is not so the horring nfi,"!"," L,?v'" r ' """" '""■'"■".'■ "<'<^""""»''»'i'^". That is the shape in which they would like to have (roverninent aid. .7 w »v« mon^^riLn',''-' ^i"*f!!»"« (N«- '») «ont out by the Committee of the House of Com- moils in in(»;(, ih as tollows : — thcir"dnv!!lonI'" "1 ^'"''i" "r'''""''*' '" " ''"c""^"'-'' «<«♦«. "nJ if 80, what obstacles impede their do\el(.piiiciit, and what means are required to foster them ?" i.rin, irml^.n'M''*" '7^7 ^"''"^ '? ''"' "«'?««">' "<' » ''^'"er fl"«.s of boats, as being the n.ipal means olloslenng and improving the lisheries, but state that the Usher- u are too p.«,r to procure them, unless the (rovcrnmeiil inlro.iiico a system of aid 1 10 shape o bounties One says :_" The mackerel and herrin- Hsho.-ies are in a mi . V. iiu '■'• V "'-', V'"*'"^''«^. fl'at impede their development are the want of . e b «> ted vessels ,..nd boats, whi"f '« "<>w required to make our Hsherios the boston the continent, is encouragement troni the (Jovernmoiit in the shape of bounties." von,. .!'.'*" •I'l'^i'^"^^^'';' "•".'■"''''*'' ''"'■*' *■""«" "»■ ''.'■'«•"• ''^"'^> ^^'i"'i'' tl'« l"«t «>»'• >ca.s, .ind will have to be discontinued unless the Government should give aid " and mi;cli more lo the same etlect. ^ ' m«.,'i'n"n""''/ ""' <•".'"• '"'.■ **'"."" *''"'' P"*** "nnuftlly 'Hstributed among the fisher- men n the shape of bounties, has led to a large amount of amelioration of their cir- mstances as set forth in IBjIit, aiul that in many jilaces boats ami vessels have been Sett tm'*'"'i'i''''*i w"'" " '''""" '*""'^^" "^"' ^'•''"t improvement in that tsp(,| ,H Mill nee"',l''^*«."' ">«". "«^i«, agree in this. TRAWfJ.Nd. if win'i ^''"""' ?!' ^^'"^ ''"" '"'*'" "•'■e'Kly siiid and quoted on the subject of trawling, e Pvcllir'! -'"^ *'"";''':' '7^^""^'- o-'recially within the territorial limits, t,; nfhm^^!. '^6 .'"•!"""•"« t'» ,"'^\ l';"'i"« «^l'ery. It is established on undoubto.l s. r ^.. ?';"•' '■'"'', ''■'''"'"'' "'"^ »'"'«'ling scares away the herring from the WfwL^Vi ' '"^^ away from the spawning grounds, and disturbes and t^shen-L:^^!'." ''m"'''i' '''"'f" "''P"^"^'!- The salmon, halibut, lobster an.t flat tish n^lZT ■'^'"',?;';'"-r ''"\" '«'«" seriously injured, and in many cases destroyed by the opeiatmns ol the trawlers. j j tmrw^^'rM.lI.'.'.i'T'"/''! ^V":'''7' ;'"'! ^'"rwUng and the Use of all destructive seincs and .r mm . •'' ^""'"'♦'"■^ »''»; ''7;'''"« "' «ny «'»y ""•! t.. .lestroy large quantities bLr n ' ..'."" ''';"'■"' ^'i""''' l'«»l''^"l"iiig grounds, or disturb and destroy the si)awn tr rj i. ''"7 '' T- '•;"''^^••"»*:"'« «''^' tcritorial waters. There can be no doubt that n uV.r r"^ ''"•'. ''''.'''''■'■'''^' *''*'''"■- K'"""il« «'■ whore herring do congregate h. V nil ,V' "li''^' '"•'"•}'""* ^'1 "'^' ''«''""K ««l'i"^' industry, by scaring the tish and tl 1 « K '". ■'"" "'>'"■ "'J'"'" '"■ "^'^^^^''' '"""'»«• **■ i^ ''»w genenilly hel.i that to salmon returns to lU native streams, and there are those who contend that the 1V;>V. i'^''V''"-?'!?\'''"''H".'"'''''"'^ "•'»""•' instinct, and being as alreu.ly «l i 'i"i I" ^.'''' »">'""".V', ^'^'"•i""' "• «^"''r«' <'r "Irive it away should m.t only bo hIbiS " '"* "' '"* P''»'^'^''<'. in the general interest of the country, strictly pro- Pul>lic sentiment in Hiitain. which at first was lai-goly in favor of the truvlers has undergone a great change, and now supports the Logisli.tire and the (iovern- nient in the recent legislation still further restraining and regulating the operations 80 of the tmwl«rH, un.l tlio clmiiKo ii, ,,ublio Hentiment is still gnina on in the witne .1. roct.on tho n.or.. tho .lan.«,^i„« «rto..». „r t.awl t\.Uin^ bocmo. kn.mn Wo think £..i;;.';!d waur"'""''""'"" "'""" '""'^"' "■""""" ^^^ """^^"^^ '« ««»• ^^^n\n\.Z Wo uro Kla.l to Hoo.HJneo writing' tl.o foroK.)infr, that inanvoCtho inMoocKMs ninl h H rZ" tT; iVH7' "'"'' 'tr'"- • ""'T''' .'f"^vli,..,v..Mu;,iu.„ioboit/llarll , hiHropoi for 1,SK7, says: "Thoro ih a larjrc iiuMoam- of biMTin« and . ,ack-erol a« c|Mn,,arod w.lh last y.-ar. Tl.o prevailing, .,,,i„i,.„ is, that wore'^tl ' ,r' I , ,n t." t.vo sp oni ki.nt uj, and purso «oino tish.ni; prohibitwl, tho hornn.^ and nickerel wouhl always bo al.undant on our Hbo.w." <'«ri "•„ ami matkerol Mr. «ortmn,, Kishory Oflicor for Capo B.olon iHland, in bin rom.rt for 1887 Hays • In my provious roports relercnoo in made t.) injuiiodH molhodH and con- tnvanooB tor akm^ rinb, and I bo^ Icavo to rofor u^min to tho subjo ot an tl o To pr n ary cond, ,on on vyb ch tho porpotuity of coast HshinK dopondH;" at loaHt within tl tb .oc-m.io hoa.l la,.d Imut. I'ho ovils ontaiiod by tho wastofal do.str„ctZ'n >" fish and lom.nal of nuch as oscapo from thoir usual ^roundH of rosort in co soquenoo o nonun^r „ear or within tho bays, has al.oadv boon rofe.rod ?o in n oviZ t^slienos. Mit like prac-ticos by our own poopio arc equally misohiovous tho d.f^eronc-o bo.nfj that tho ovil is lossouod by fowor bein« o J^^^S des" t vl"'! ""l":''' T 'r *;"'^''K"^"'- "ro exol»do.i. The use o"^" so t, ^ ra »" »» I to homlland, fron which abons are at prosent debar.od. if our ti.shorics a.e ^ bo preserve,!. n perpetuity. Most tis'bor.non a.k..ow]odKo this, .'d w.. d like to see un Aot onforcod for tho oxHusion of all suoh n.otbo.i; o f cU- nl lattei- with certain rost.ict.ons. The only parties who would rafso any obioction to such « re^nila .on a.e a few capitalists who' can afford tho more dost>.,ct vo ns r ments, and who inv^jst only for p.-esont and i.nmodiafo p.ofit, .Uter y "Sniless f «Z/odin7hoU'"r"- '^'" 'V' """' '""^' ^•'*'""»"' ''••"-hee '^- f^s^ring 4 reganlod in the pu.olv commeic.al .ispect, or as food producti.)n, a.o those of cod he.nng a..d mackoi^ef. Tbeso a.o tl.o throe linos of fisljini; upon which the onn.iary S e X?Kn " '"!" '."^';"''r"''"''' T^ ''^"^« "»'"» "'^'^'^ ^he fade.- esseni .fl^ rol.os whotbor foi- sale in the home market or to.- foreign oxpo.-t. Yot tl.ov are the branches wh.ch Huffor fi.-st and mo«t heavily by tho methods of seining, O awl .." and trapping. On tl.o p..nciplo of the greatest ^ood to the g.eatost n.imbor and it" exclS'bv llTT Pr'-^'*^rV.' ♦." ""' ««ir"' t""'"^'^ ^'^^ ^'^T Hhoul,l be rSly exuu, ed by law fiom the inside limits named, if not from the Gulf, ' entirely." of St. Lawrence WASIIINO OF IIERHINQ. in ^1. ,1 .1 elsewhere, the washing of herring bofo.-e curing is not practised n Scotland, an.l so fi.r as we ould learn, never hat boon. The S.-otcl. cu?e." w^t vl,,.m wo conversed ,m the s,.boct, were surp.iee,! to hoar of he.Ting in Canada fe sLw what u"1'' T/''"^'- .^^'^^ <=ouia>.-dly believe such a prac'tice passible nlS. A ""^"'''"^ »P'""''* ■''«'" ^''^ Maritime Provinces in time past wo quote mm ho answer of Mr. Gonlon. Pictou, to qt.ostion No. 4, in 18(i9 ; ho "ays •- K«n, • '" I '""/t^'-^il practice of Nova Sc.tia fishermen to stoop the fish for ™ • rT."^ "^ ^'" "?""!' ""^'' *''^ '^■"'«'" '^•^^'"'"«« ^^"••>»' ""dor the erroneous f?Zl \ t''"^^''«.>• '^" t»'."« K^nofitted by the extraction of the blood. Under this treatment hon.ng jart ^v•lth their Hcalos an.l Juice, and are deprived of that taste and flavor peculiar to her.-ing properly cu.ed. Besides, the b,>d3' of the fish thus saturated with water is rendered tasteless, brittle ,md Bl.,,rt, aid not iSod to tiu-n out .at.sf actorily at the end of a long sea voyage. The Scotch ^1" "tal e every procauti,.,, to keep the he..,i..jr from contact tuh .vator »>cf re and aflS suiting. Salt the fish in their blood, and the salt will extract the blood " 8t 1 in the Bumo \yn. We think tisli within tho iiiHlMfclors and '••it, iliirlHXtrin I niiickorul tiii pri'scnt proU'c- and mackorul for 1887 snys : IhmIm and con- »'t an the one it JoaHl within dt'sti'uction of resort, in con- to in previous 3 in our wiioro schiovouH, the • "'•iw«i<'n"ble, and is one also that etlectually destroys the good qualities of the herring in flavor and substance Ihis practice may arise fiom the custom of putting herring down in large casks or vats, and then, after a time, repacking int.. the common litrht herrin-' barrel Jler- ring treated in this way cannot be much better than those soaked fuH.ours in warm waer. 1 he hei-ring should be packed in the light herring barrels in the first instance, and fully salted, when the necessary quantity of pieklo will be formed fronj the dissolution of the salt caused by the moisture in the fish. The ad< herring for manure to he ineoiisistont with the Chiistian civi- hwition of the age, and that the practice should be strictly prohibitetl. QERRINU OFFAL. 19. We have already shflwn from unnuostionable authority tho evil otfocts upon the herring shoals of throwing otlal or fish refuse into tho sea, resulting, in the case of Swo.len, in combination with day light net Hshing, in banishing the herrinc from the sliorcs of tliat country, for a noriod of «!» years. * All oxpcrionco shows that the nractico of throwing offal into tho soa near tho grounds frequented by tho herring shoals, invarialdy results in scaring tho Hsh away for a time, or driving them away ocrmanontly, and wo cr)nsidor tlio practice should bo prohibited under heavy ponaltios. And that, as in tho case of trawlin"- tho prevention of the practice on tho higli soas, should l)o brougiit alM)ut by intornaTional arrangomciit. In Scotland all herring oft'al is carefully placed in barrels and sold to the farmers for manure, at so much per cart load, in some places 25 cents, in some places 50 cents Mixed with vegetable mould or black muck, it makes a most excellent compost for inaiiunng purposes. *^ In some parts of Europe largo quantities of oil are extracted from the offal of herrings, by the process of Ixdiing in water in large pans, the water purifying the il and making it suitable for commercial purpo.ses. Wo think tho law as to tho isposal of offal sliould bo strictly enforced. oi d OO.VCLUSION. Whilostriving earnestly and faithfully to fulfil tho duties imposed uijon us by the Government in the matter of this investigation, we desire to be permitted to say that vve are, at tho same time, animated by a strong personal interest in the welfare of the fashermen of the Maritime Provinces, and a strong desire to see such chan«<-es bi-ought about, for iho improvement of the honing in