HC Deb 10 March 1939 vol 344 cc2515-6W
Mr. W. R. Duckworth

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he can give any reasons why there is such a material decline in the cure of herrings in this country, in view of the increase in other countries which equally cure herrings, especially the increase in the cure of Dutch herrings?

Sir R. Dorman-Smith

The decline in the cure of herrings in this country is due to the difficulties which have arisen in the export trade owing largely to the increasing development of their own herring industries by countries such as Germany and the U.S.S.R. which have formed, in the past, our biggest foreign markets. Competition from other exporting countries, notably Iceland and the Netherlands, has also been a contributory factor. Dutch competition was particularly severe in 1937, when the Dutch cure was exceptionally large and part had to be disposed of at reduced prices.