THE LANDINGS 145 



barrel as soon as the fish are caught. This 

 fishery has good following among the 

 French, who start at the North of Scotland 

 in early summer and by Christmas have 

 followed the fish close to the north coast 

 of France. 



Holland. In the Middle Ages the 

 fisheries of the Dutch were the most im- 

 portant in the world. Herrings were then 

 a great staple food, and the whole industry 

 was practically in their hands. With the 

 diminution of the Dutch prestige on the 

 water the trade suffered greatly from the 

 interference caused by the continental wars 

 of the surrounding powers. In the past 

 half-century they have revived the in- 

 dustry, participating with the British in 

 pursuit of the herring. Also they have 

 within recent years built up a steam 

 trawling fleet of over 100 vessels, which 

 supply the clean little port of Ymuideri. 

 Holland is singularly deficient in good 

 harbours ; but this port, constructed by 

 the Government specially to encourage 

 fishing, and admirably situated at the 

 North Sea end of the Amsterdam canal, 

 has been a great success, and has often 



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