§ Sir B. Neven-Spenceasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether, in view of the unsatisfactory quality of so called iced herring landed in bulk by Lowestoft drifters in 1947, he will take steps to see that in 1948 iced herrings will only be allowed to be landed if boxed at sea.
§ Mr. WoodburnThe Herring Industry Board isued a Direction on 22nd March covering the period until 10th May prohibiting the landing of herring over one day old unless they had been properly iced in boxes at sea. The Board have fully in view the need to secure that herring are landed in proper condition and I am informed that they will consider making a similar Direction for the autumn fishing.
§ Sir B. Neven-Spenceasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether, in view of the satisfactory results of the trial of herring gutting machines at Yarmouth in 1947, any steps are being taken to make these machines available at Lerwick and other herring fishing ports during 1948.
§ Mr. WoodburnSix herring gutting machines which were tried out at Yarmouth in 1947 have been acquired by the Hering Industry Board who have made arrangements with curers at Stornoway for their use during 1948 at that port where the shortage of gutting crews is more acute than elsewhere.
§ Sir B. Neven-Spenceasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether the experimental exportation of dry cured herrings to Africa in 1947 has proved a success; and whether steps will be taken to exploit this market in 1948.
§ Mr. WoodburnThe Herring Industry Board sent samples of dry cured herring to a number of places in Africa at the end 3W of 1947 and the reports so far received indicate that this is an acceptable article of food. The Board are alive to the desirability of developing the African market and further steps are being taken to explore the possibilities but it is too early yet to judge whether dry cured herring can be sold on a commercial scale.