264 THE HISTORY OF DUTCH SEA FISHERIES. 



days of the season, when every dealer was anxious to have 

 thousands of barrels branded and exported at once. The 

 first assay upon landing was done as usual, and the first 

 sale of the herring to the inland wholesale dealer was 

 effected upon its credit ; but for thoroughly performing 

 the second there was no time left, and the inspection 

 previous to giving the crown-brand was generally very 

 superficial, allowing much refuse of the Scotch fisheries to 

 obtain the Dutch brand, and spoil its renown abroad. A 

 revision of the branding rules in 1860, and another in 1861,* 

 intended to introduce an easier mode of control, and pre- 

 vent foreign herring from obtaining the Dutch brand, failed 

 to accomplish the purpose. Both the old and new brands 

 continued to be put on bad foreign herring ; and the fraud 

 was even turned into open connivance with foreign dealers, 

 who had " Scotch herring in Dutch fustage," consigned to 

 them at prices above those of Scotch and under those of 

 genuine Dutch fish, and in their turn made their clients 

 pay the latter. Although of course highly prejudicial to 

 the sale of the genuine article, these dealings could not be 

 stopped ; and they went on, on a scale more or less exten- 

 sive as herring prices ruled higher or lower, until the 

 average prices of Dutch brand gradually came down to a 

 level with, and even below, those of Scotch crown-brand, 

 chiefly owing to the frauds described. Then, of course, 

 there was no longer a profit in selling Scotch herring for 

 Dutch ; and the only way of making fraudulent gain lay 

 in obtaining the Dutch " full," or " maatjes," crown-brand 

 for herring of inferior quality, which practice never could 

 be stopped entirely until the official brand was finally 

 abolished altogether. Assayers always did their utmost ; 



* Decrees of March 4th, 1860 (Staatsblad, No. 11) and February 

 24th, 1 86 1 (Staatsblad, No. 13). 



