THE HISTORY OF DUTCH SEA FISHERIES. 37 



herring fishery was aimed at in the very first year of the 

 Republic's existence. As these statutes have been in 

 vigour, with slight alterations, for two centuries and more, 

 and their influence on the fishery's destinies has been very 

 considerable, it is necessary to expose their tenor at some 

 length. 



Part of the fishing code alluded to was indeed anterior to 

 the Republic, being contained in several placards dated 

 March Qth, 1580,* and issued in King Philip's name, 

 though his actual authority had then ceased to prevail in 

 the country, and he was no party to the laws issued, for 

 form's sake, as under his authority. Besides the police 

 regulations referred to at the conclusion of Part I., these so- 

 called Royal placards contain certain rules to be observed 

 in the hiring of sailors for service in fishing vessels, and 

 the relations between them and the ships' masters or " steers- 

 men." The prohibition to carry Dutch herring abroad or 

 dispose of it at sea to foreign fishermen is likewise repeated 

 in one of these Acts. The most interesting part of them 

 is, however, the fixation of the season for " salting herring 

 in barrels," between June 1st and January ult, being a 

 derogation to former placards prohibiting the trade before 

 St. James's Day, which seem to have ere this fallen into 

 oblivion. To preserve the ancient reputation of the Dutch 

 brand-herring was once more the object of this enactment. 

 " Whereas," says the placard, " it has come to Our knowledge 

 that some, for their singular profit do catch the herring 

 before its season and time, ere they be good and right 

 natural to eat, and salt them in barrels and sell them in the 

 market, though such herrings be quite untimely and often 

 prejudicious to the consumer thereof, thereby causing in 



* Groot Placaetboek v. Hollandt en Wesivriesland, vol. i. pp. 684- 

 691, 696-707, 715-717, 748-75 1 - 



