§ Mr. MUNROasked the Secretary for Scotland whether his attention has been called to the annual report on the Continental herring trade, issued by Mr. T. M. Schröder, of Stettin, for the year 1911, and to the statements contained in it to the effect that well founded complaints were made during the year regarding the Scottish Crown brand, that these complaints were duly conveyed, but without any result, to the official inspector of the Fishery Board when he was in Stettin, and that during the year many under-salted, immature, and deteriorated fish bearing the Crown brand were received in Germany; whether he has any official information to the effect that the statements in the report are correct; and, if so, whether he will take steps to secure that the reputation of the Crown brand shall be rehabilitated?
Mr. McKINNON WOODThe report referred to by my hon. Friend has been considered by the Fishery Board. The Board's general inspector while in Stettin in September last made careful inquiry into the complaints submitted to him. While some of the complaints proved to be well founded, the quantities complained of were small in proportion to the total amount of Crown branded herrings imported, and the deterioration was largely due to the abnormally hot season which caused a like deterioration in Dutch and German herrings. The Board have no reason to suppose that the Crown brand has fallen in the estimation of Continental buyers, and they are fully alive to the importance of conserving its reputation. I may add that the Report of the general inspector on his Continental visit and inspections will be published shortly.