§ MR. WEIRI beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury if he will state the nature of the response which has been received to the representations which, in the 15th Annual Report of the Fishery Board for Scotland, are stated to have been made to the Governments of Russia, Austria, and the United States, with a view to a reduction of the high duties on cured herrings imported into those countries?
§ THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURYI gather that representations have been made to the Governments of Russia and Austria. In answer to various Questions put by the honourable Member last year it was stated that, in the opinion, of Her Majesty's Government, no useful purpose would be served by such a course. Representations were made by Her Majesty's Minister at Washington to the United States Government in January, 1897, and the duty on salted herrings in the United States remains at half of a cent. per pound, being the same rate as that previously in force.