8o THE HISTORY OF DUTCH SEA FISHERIES. 



and the only way in which to avoid this loss is, if possible, 

 to sell her, and buy a new ship when better times are come. 

 Wherefore, a fishery which during sixty years was scarcely 

 ever exercised without danger, which was several times 

 prohibited for years together, and from which it was con- 

 stantly forbidden to sell out, may by a safe deduction be 

 assumed to have been brought down to a low level at the 

 end of such a period, not to speak of losses of ships to the 

 enemy. I have not found any statistics or positive records 

 as to the Grand Fishery's condition immediately after the 

 peace of Utrecht ; but it may be safely assumed to have 

 at the time presented but a shadow of its former greatness. 

 And now the full weight of the legislative restrictions 

 imposed upon it contributed to keep it down. Being 

 intricated in a net of regulations intended to warrant the 

 quality of its produce, it could not compete with foreigners, 

 who managed under a more liberal system to produce an 

 article equally marketable, if not equally good. Being tied 

 to one first-hand staple market, viz. the Dutch emporiums, 

 it could not regain in the foreign markets that privileged 

 position which it had of course lost during the years of its 

 actual stoppage and stand-still. The fishing laws have 

 perhaps contributed to the herring trade's greatness, but 

 they have certainly prevented it from rising when prostrated 

 by the force of events. As a very convincing proof of this 

 the herring negotiations with Hamburg may be cited, which 

 are the principal centre of the present narrative's interest, 

 in the period to which it has now advanced. 



It will be remembered that a treaty had been concluded 

 in 1609 between the Republic and Hamburg, in virtue of 

 which either party was to exclude herring of whatever 

 origin from its markets if not certified to have been caught 

 after St. John's, or June 24th, and cured on board. 



