§ 22. Mr. BOLANDasked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland) what special steps, if any, have been taken to bring to the notice of foreign importers the establishment of an Irish Crown brand for cured herrings; and can he give any estimate of the increase in the demand for and in the price secured by branded as distinct from unbranded Irish-cured herrings?
§ Mr. T. W. RUSSELL (Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture, Ireland)The Irish Crown brand has been made known on the Continent by the distribution of printed information, by the representatives of Continental importers resident in or visiting this country during the branding season, and by a representative of the Department who visited the principal importing centres in Germany last year. Of the herrings landed at the Irish ports where the brand was in operation, during 394 the season of 1911 approximately 24 per cent. was branded, and during the season of 1912 approximately 34 per cent., the total catch being also 50 per cent. greater than in 1911. Irish Crown branded herrings have sold regularly at a considerable increase of price over unbranded fish of the same classes.