§ MR. FORDYCEasked the President of the Board of Trade, Whether the Scotch Fishery Board has recommended the removal of the restrictions on the use of fir wood in the manufacture of herring barrels; and, if so, whether it is intended to carry out these recommendations?
§ SIR CHARLES ADDERLEYSir, in the year 1849 the Scotch Fishery Board conducted some experiments in order to test the fitness of fir and larch wood for herring barrels, the result of which was against the use of fir wood, and, consequently, the then existing restrictions against the use of that description of wood in the manufacture of herring barrels were not interfered with. During the past herring fishing season, the Fishery Board have, at the desire of the Board of Trade, made further experiments with a view of ascertaining whether fir wood may not, if duly seasoned, be fit for this purpose, and the result of these renewed experiments, in the opinion of the Fishery Board and of the Board of Trade, justifies the use of fir for herring barrels; and the Board of Trade have referred the Papers for the consideration of the Lord Advocate of Scotland, with a recommendation that the prohibition should be repealed.