236 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



durinc: tlie following years. The cities, of course, derived tlie greatest 

 benelit from tbe fisheries, and it may well be said that the cities and 

 those capitalists who owned the large establishments, were really the 

 only ones who had any positive profit from the fisheries. Gotteuburg, 

 especially, must here be mentioned, which, according to ^'Granherg's his- 

 toria,''' owed its flourishing condition chiefly to the East India trade and 

 the herring-fisheries. Granherg says that the exportation of herrings 

 and more especially of herring-oil gave a new impetus to commerce in 

 general and exercised a decided influence on all trade."*^ The cities of 

 Bohusliin likewise flomished considerably during this period. Marstrand 

 almost quadrupled its population, and Uddevalla rose to importance as 

 well as the city of Kungelf.^' The great ease with which in those days 

 money was made in Bohusliin and the many chances oflered, especially 

 to persons of the working-classes, to lead a joyous and careless life, of 

 course attracted large numbers from all parts of the kingdom, and, as 

 might be supposed, generally persons of low morals. The above-men- 

 tioned decree allowing persons who had been cou\icted of minor offences 

 to retiu'n to Sweden if they would engage in the fisheries, actually made 

 Marstrand from 1775-171U a kind of free port or harbor of refuge for 

 criminals, and did not serve to raise its general standard of morality. If, 

 furthermore, we take into consideration the fact that the owners of salt- 

 ing-houses and oil-refineries were licensed to keep groceries and retail 

 liquor-stores, the consequences may easily be imagined. The greater 

 l>ortion of the male population of the coast were scarcely ever sober, as 

 enough money was earned during the fishing-season to keep them going 

 all the rest of the year. The grog-shops were, therefore, crowded all the 

 year round with the exception of Christmas Day and Good Friday. 

 Fishermen and workingmen, coming from other parts, generally arrived 

 a mouth before fishing commenced, and this season of idleness was almost 

 exclusively devoted to drinking and carousing. As a natural consequence 

 of such a life the majority of the coast population had no thoughts for 

 the future and no moral strength to bear reverses. Sanguinary quarrels 

 were not so frequent as during the sixteenth century, but all other vices 

 prevailed.^^ The authorities never thought of stemming the tide of cor- 

 ruption, their whole attention being occupied with the prevention of 

 smuggling, for which purpose a number of small men-of-war were in 



many thovisauil lights sliiuiug from the •wiudows and from the numerous lamps along 

 the quays, and being reflected in the -n-aves. Everything was life and bustle, and tons 

 of gold changed hands. Now nothing is seen but ruins, only here and there a dilapi- 

 dated fisherman's cottage, awakening melancholy thoughts in the heart of the visitor. 

 "Would that soon these glorious times for which thousands are sighing might return." 

 This was written in the year 1?31. 



*'^ Granhcrrj , Gotd). hist, och hesh:, I, p. 65 : II, i). 153, 176. The enormous sums which 

 this exportation yielded were used as capital in starting or supporting important home- 

 industries, and their want was painfully felt when in 1S08 this source of wealth ceased. 



*^ Holmbeni, Bohusl. hist. o. iesh:, III, p. 1"20-1-21, 349-350, 415-401, 425; ^nd edition, 

 II, p. 246 ; III, p. 133-139, 200-204, 207. 



*i>Holmherg, ''BohusJ. hist, och tesAT.," II, p. 82,92-93; 2d edition, I, p. 277,237. 



