§ Mr. Hutchinsonasked the President of the Board of Trade what were the quantities of canned salmon, canned crab and canned pilchards imported into this country from Japan, Russia and British Empire countries, respectively, in each of the last three years, for which the information is available; and what distinguishing marks are required to be placed upon this produce to indicate to retail purchasers the country of origin?
§ Mr. CrossThe following table shows the quantity of the under mentioned 635W descriptions of the fish imported into the United Kingdom during each of the years
Description Countries from which consigned. 1936 1937 1938 (provisional). Canned— Cwts. Cwts. Cwts. Salmon … British countries … 166,180 174,421 155,721 Japan (including Formosa) … 267,173 454,000 395,180 Soviet Union … 281,147 293,810 300,608 Crab … British countries … — 36 — Japan (including Formosa) … 51,084 38,987 33,268 Soviet Union … 28,406 31,157 34,420 Pilchards … British countries … — — 44 Japan (including Formosa) … 16,848 24,016 24,162 Soviet Union … — — — In connection with the above figures, it should be noted that a large proportion of the imports of canned salmon consigned from the Soviet Union consists of fish from Japanese canneries situated in Soviet territory.
With regard to the second part of the question, I understand that imported tinned fish is usually sold under names or trade marks which require to be qualified by an indication of origin under the Merchandise Marks Act, 1926; but I have no information whether that indication usually consists of the word "foreign" or "Empire," as the case may be, or a definite indication of the country of origin. Under the provisions of the Act, either alternative is open to the person applying the indication of origin.