THE HISTORY OF DUTCH SEA FISHERIES. 249 



were not at variance with the Statute of 1822.* In 1854 

 at the request of the States of both provinces, the Regu- 

 lations were altered on two important heads, by the 

 abolition of last money, till then levied from all fresh- 

 herring fishers by the College, and the shifting of the fresh- 

 herring fishery's opening date from September 2Oth to 

 August 2Oth of each year.f The latter alteration especially 

 indicated a slackening of the monopolising spirit, as on 

 August 2Oth cure-herring fishery was still in full activity 

 on the Scotch or English coasts, whereas the former 

 opening date of the fresh-herring business had been 

 contrived with a view to keep bumboats out of the herring 

 seas altogether during the height of the cure-herring 

 season. A month afterwards the States of South Holland, 

 (in whose province nearly the whole of the Grand Fishery 

 was then centred) took another and much more decisive 

 step towards the abolition of the curing monopoly, by 

 permitting bumboats to cure all herring caught in the 

 course of any voyage commenced after October loth. 

 The measure had been strongly urged by the Fresh-herring 

 and Coast Fishery College in the course of the preceding 

 year, and was then retarded, not by any unwillingness on 

 the part of provincial authorities, but by the naked fact of 

 the request having been preferred too late for sanction by 

 the Provincial States ordinary summer meeting.^ This 

 very important breach in the Grand Fishery's curing 

 monopoly was sanctioned by Royal Decree of Septem- 

 ber 5th, 1854 (Staatsblad, No. 132), in virtue of the Royal 

 qualification, established by clause 16 of the law of 



* Royal Decrees of August 22nd, 1848 (Staatsblad, Nos. 36, 37) 

 f Decrees of August 7th, 1854 (Staatsblad, Nos. 109, no). 

 % See Mr. Gevers van Endegeest's speech on premiums in the 

 Second Chamber, on December 3rd, 1853. 



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