50 THE HISTORY OF DUTCH SEA FISHERIES. 



They were, besides, altered in some points, among which 

 some importance may be attributed to the shifting of the 

 salt-herring fisheries closing-day to January ult, the 

 express prohibition against curing salt-herring ashore, the 

 prohibition to cure herring with other salt than Spanish or 

 Portuguese, and the institution of divers brands, each to be 

 solely exported to certain towns or countries. The leading 

 idea of these several enactments is an extreme anxiety, not 

 only to have the foreign markets constantly supplied w r ith 

 a good article, but also to have that article packed and 

 otherwise made up in the fashion customary in the several 

 markets. For instance, a " Rouen brand " was consecrated 

 to exportation to France, and there was also a " Cologne 

 brand." The principle of having distinct brands for herring 

 caught at different parts of the season, which we have seen 

 established in 1519 by the prescription of a "St. James's 

 brand," was much extended in the early years of the seven- 

 teenth century, when a " Lady Day " (Vrouwe brand), an 

 " Elevation Day " (Kruis brand), and a Bartholomew brand 

 were, if not first used, at least first mentioned in the herring 

 laws.* Each of these brands was to have the peculiar look 

 customary in the several markets ; and to this effect very 

 detailed prescriptions were given as to the number of hoops 

 to be applied to the barrels marked with each brand. In 

 short, having undertaken in many points to regulate 

 the fisherman's business, legislation by degrees took the 

 dealer's, broker's, and expeditioner's likewise into her own 

 hands, and the merchant's activity and acuteness were 

 superseded by Government rules. Constant changes in 

 the different markets' requirements of course led to fre- 



* Brands stating the time of capture were then the only distinctives. 

 The quality-brands stating herring to be " full," " matties," or " ylen," 

 are ot much posterior invention. 



