FISHING-VILLAGES AND FISHING-IMPLBMENTS IN DENMARK. 181 



Nearly all these implements are made by the fishermen themselves. 

 The women spin and the meu bind them ; small children even assisting 

 in the work. 



The amount of material, however, is so large, and requires so much 

 repairing - , that the fishermen and their families cauuot do all the work 

 alone, so that there is enough work left for the poor and old folks of 

 the villages. The considerable expense required for the material and 

 its repairing, consumes, of course, a large portion of the fishermen's 

 annual income, so that they can not save much money. Still they suffer 

 no want, and are enabled to keep up with the age, being decidedly bet- 

 ter housed, fed, and clothed, than their ancestors. 



Local influences have tended to make the fishermen of Snekkersteen 

 and Skotterup better educated than fishermen generally are. Living 

 close by the sound, the great European highway, they have learned 

 much from the many foreigners of all nations, with whom they come in 

 constant contact. They are enlightened and liberal in their views and 

 possessed of a strong feeling of independence. 



As far back as the year 1745 they established among themselves a 

 society for the relief of the sick and the burial of the dead. It is inter- 

 esting to see from the old account-books of this society, that the major- 

 ity of the members, who were only simple fishermen, could write and 

 cipher, some of them even very well, and this at a time when such 

 learning w r as not often found among the poorer classes. 



Much could be done to increase the value of the fisheries of Snek- 

 kersteen and Skotterup, both in the way of new methods and more 

 modern implements. But what is particularly wanted is a good harbor. 

 Such a harbor would cost from 6,000 to 8,000 rigsdalers. The ministry 

 of the interior has appropriated 1,000 rigsdalers for this undertaking, 

 the district council, 800 ; and many private individuals have made con- 

 tributions. The work was begun last spring, and there is every pros- 

 pect that these two flourishing villages will soon possess an excellent 

 boat-harbor, and have it free of debt. 



