Britain: An official handbook > 1956

INDUSTRY
163
high rentals. There are also extensive fishings for brown trout. Other freshwater
fish taken, particularly in England, are roach, rudd, perch and dace. Fishing for
freshwater fish other than salmon and trout is of minor importance and figures of
catches are not available.
Promotion and Regulation of the Industry
Laws in Britain relating to fisheries and fish are principally directed to the follow¬
ing purposes: (a) protection of supply by measures against over-fishing, e.g., the
Sea Fisheries Regulation Acts, 1888 to i93°> and the Sea Fishing Industry Acts,
1933 to 1938; (b) promotion of the prosperity of the industry, e.g., the Herring
Industry Acts, 1935 to 1953, the White Fish Industry Acts, 1951 to 1953, and the
Fisheries Act, 1955 ; (c) protection of the quality of the product, e.g., the Food and
Drugs Act, 1938. The Government Departments mainly responsible for the admini¬
stration of laws in the first two categories and for the general sponsorship of
fisheries are the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, the Scottish Home
Department, and the Ministry of Commerce for Northern Ireland; the Ministry
of Health and the Department of Health for Scotland are concerned with questions
of nutrition and hygiene affecting fish and fish products. The safety and welfare of
crews of fishing vessels are provided for under the Merchant Shipping Acts, which
are administered by the Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation.
The authorities concerned with fisheries research are the Ministry of Agricul¬
ture, Fisheries and Food, the Scottish Home Department and the Development
Commissioners (see p. 381).
Two statutory authorities exist to regulate and develop Britain’s fishing industry:
the Herring Industry Board and the White Fish Authority.
The Herring Industry Board
rl he Herring Industry Board was set up under the Herring Industry Act of 1935,
to reorganize, develop and regulate the herring industry; subsequent amending
Acts have also been passed. The Board is financed partly by Government grants
and loans and partly by levies and licence fees. It consists of a chairman and tw o
other members, all part-time and independent of the industry, who are appointed
jointly by the Secretary of State for Scotland, the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries
and Food and the Secretary of State for the Home Department. The Board pro¬
motes sales of herring both at home and abroad, encourages and carries out schemes
of research and experiment into methods of fishing and processing, makes grants
and loans for the acquisition of new boats and engines, and loans for the purchase
of nets and gear, for the provision of processing plants, and for the reconditioning
of existing boats, and exercises a measure of control over the industry by means of
rules, directions and licensing. It operates a scheme for the reduction of herring to
oil and meal, using its own and commercial processing plants. In August 1951 the
Board was given powers to participate in the industry, including fishing for herring,
and purchasing, processing and selling herring; such powers, however, are to be
used only to secure proper provision for the needs of the industry and after consul¬
tation with the interests concerned. The Board is assisted by the Herring Industry
Advisory Council, representing various sections of the industry and consumers, and
by local officers who work at the ports during the fishing season, and who on
occasion act as port arbiters in disputes regarding herring sales. Sectional commit¬
tees may be set up to advise the Board on matters affecting a particular section of
the industry.