580 DEMORALIZED STATE OF THE FISHERMEN. 



Norwegian Sow (a publication deriving its name from 

 a hog of unnatural form — a perfect monster, in short — 

 that existed in the province of Aggerhuus in 1581, and 

 the advent of which was looked on by the superstitious 

 as the precursor of God's vengeance for the sins of the 

 people), when speaking of the same glut, testifies to the 

 like effect, and even in stronger language. During the 

 last successful fishery — that from 1747 to 1808 — matters, 

 instead of improving, would appear, by the testimony of 

 M. Holmberg, to have been still worse. He writes : — 

 " The vagabond life led by the people in the Skargard 

 exceeded all belief — blasphemy, outrages, immorality of 

 all kinds, and scenes of beastly drunkenness, were going 

 on all day. Erom morning to evening the fishermen and 

 others were seen staggering about in their houses, in 

 their boats, and on the piers erected for the protection of 

 the latter ; whilst the nights were devoted to debaucheries 

 of the worst descri2:)tion. This was, however, the less 

 surprising, as the people of both sexes thus congregated 

 together consisted for the most part of the very dregs of 

 society ; and as there was no police to keep them under 

 control, one can therefore hardly wonder at the inha- 

 bitants of the province saying, as they now do, ' Gud 

 lute Sillen aldrig komma ifjen ; ' that is, ' We hope to God 

 the herrings will never return.' " 



