146 FISHERIES OF THE NORTH SEA 



attracted British trawlers by its vicinity 

 to the fishing grounds and the keen demand 

 of buyers. The port is also well provided 

 with railway accommodation, and a great 

 proportion of the catch goes through to 

 Germany. 



The herring fishery ports are mostly in 

 South Holland, and the fishermen still 

 adhere to sailing vessels. These carry a 

 large crew, for the curing is done on the 

 ship, generally with a view to export. 

 Germany is the chief customer, but quanti- 

 ties are sent to North and South America. 

 The boats, usually owned by the crew, join 

 the British herring fleets at the North of 

 Scotland and work down with the season. 

 The ' bommen," the beamy boat so 

 familiar to students of Dutch paintings, is 

 fast dying out, and many of the sailing 

 vessels are now equipped with auxiliary 

 oil engines. 



The herring fishery is valued at over 

 1,000,000, and this, with the trawling 

 industry which, as usual, is generally quite 

 separate, employs 15,000 men. The ex- 

 tremely shallow Zuyder Zee and the coast 

 inlets are worked by the small boats, and 



