An Appeal for the Herring The destruction of the herring
industry would be a calamity for Scotland, but there is no short road to the industry's preservation. There is undoubtedly truth in the allegation that protective tariffs here which exclude the products of other countries are in some degree respon- sible for the retaliatory exclusion by such countries of British exports, like herrings, and it is just as well that this half-invisible consequence of Protection should be adequately emphasized. But facts are facts, and it is as necessary to deal with than as to deplore them. There may be a case for some Government assistance to the industry, such as the Secretary for Scotland outlined last week, but nothing can really help it except an increased demand for herrings. And to appeal for that means appealing to the individual consumer, for there is no bulk demand for herrings in the home-market. The appeal ought to be made, and pressed by the most effective publicity methods known. If every family off the dole undertook to eat 'herrings once a week for breakfast, as it might 'do to its own great advantage, the industry would seethe road back to prosperity opening up. It would mean more competition for the British hen and the British pig, but they can well afford to share their command of the British breakfast-table with the British herring.
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