§ 130. Mr. Lipsonasked the Minister of Agriculture what steps he is taking to prevent fish being dumped back into the sea, as happened recently to 450,000 herrings at North Shields.
§ Mr. CollickMy information is that no herrings have been dumped back into the sea by fishermen at North Shields. Owing, however, to the unpredictable nature of the herring fishery there is always a risk, at times of heavy catches, that the quantity landed on a particular day may be beyond the normal capacity of the merchants and processors at the port My right hon. Friend is discussing with his colleagues the Secretary of State for Scotland and the Minister of Food, and with the Herring Industry Board, the best method of ensuring that no avoidable wastage of a valuable foodstuff shall occur, but the precise action to be taken must necessarily vary according to the circumstances of the particular case.
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§ 131. Mr. Boothbyasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware that, though over 1,000,000 barrels of herring could be cured for export to the Continent, the present target of 500,000 barrels is now unlikely to be achieved; that plans are being made for restricting the fishing; and what steps he proposes to take to deal with the situation.
§ Mr. WestwoodThe target of 500,000 barrels for 1946 is the highest which could be fixed in view of the number of barrels likely to be available for cured herring and the labour available for filling them. The supply of barrels is limited owing to the acute shortage of the special timber required, but every effort has been, and is being, made to obtain barrels, and I have every hope that the target will be reached. The Herring Industry Board assure me that regulation of fishing will be the minimum necessary having regard to the capacity of the home and curing markets. There is special need for regulation at the present moment because herring are not yet in good condition for curing and the outlet for them is limited accordingly.