asked the Minister for Agriculture if he is aware that large shoals of herrings, of good quality, have now struck the Donegal coast at various points; that, in the absence of salt, barrels, kippering or canning plants, the fishermen cannot avail properly of this valuable fishing; and if he will take steps to provide the necessary facilities to take full advantage of the visits of herring shoals to our coasts.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Herring Shoals.
I understand that herrings are shoaling fairly heavily off the coasts of Donegal and other counties and that relatively good landings are being made. I am not aware that any special difficulty is being experienced in disposing of the Donegal catches. The processing of herrings, whether by pickling, kippering or canning, is a matter for private enterprise. According to my information, salt is available for curing but there is a shortage of fish barrels, mainly due to the difficulty of procuring material for hoop making. There are several kippering plants in Dublin and other parts of the country and all of them appear to be working to full capacity at present. The position as regards the canning of herrings is that at least one factory is ready to start production as soon as the cans now on order have been delivered.