58 THE SOVEREIGNTY OF THE SEA 



the North Cape, in quest of fish. One reason for the great 

 demand was the numerous fast-days enjoined by the Church ; 

 for although fish were eschewed by the ascetic monks of early 

 times as dangerous to purity of soul, the fashion changed, and 

 they were later consumed plentifully on the days of fast both 

 by clergy and laity. 1 The fasts were strictly observed through- 

 out Catholic Europe, and a large variety of sea and fresh-water 

 fishes, as well as seals and cetaceans, were consumed on such 

 occasions. Some of the large monastic establishments had 

 their own staff of fishermen, and their fish-houses at seaports 

 for the salting and curing of herring. Another reason for the 

 extensive consumption of fish was the want of winter-roots 

 and the scantiness of fodder in winter, so that it was impracti- 

 cable to keep cattle and sheep for slaughtering throughout the 

 winter. It was customary to kill them and salt the flesh in 

 autumn ; and thus fish, fresh, dried, smoked, or salted, formed 

 a valued article of food in place of salted beef and mutton. 

 Fish were also used to an extraordinary extent in victualling 

 the army and navy, and in provisioning castles, the expense 

 on this item of the commissariat generally equalling or exceed- 

 ing that for beef, mutton, or pork. 2 The distribution even of 

 fresh fish was also much better than might have been expected. 

 Barges and boats carried them up the rivers, and pack-horses 

 and waggons transported them throughout the country, so 

 that even in inland counties the harvesters in the fields were 

 supplied with herrings for their dinner. 3 In mediaeval times, 

 moreover, fishermen and fishing vessels constitued a consider- 

 able part of the naval force available for the defence of the 

 kingdom, for offensive operations and the transport of soldiers. 

 The fishermen of the Cinque Ports, who had the government 

 of the great herring fair at Yarmouth, had also to provide 

 vessels for the king's service under their charters. Later, 

 when a permanent navy existed, the fisheries were looked upon 

 as a very important " nursery " of seamen to man the fleets. 



1 Allard, Du Poiston, considers comme Aliment dans Ics Temps anciens et moderncs. 



2 Garrad, The Artc of War. 



3 In the itinerary of a journey from England made by a Scottish nobleman to 

 join Edward I. in Scotland, it is recorded that herrings were purchased nearly 

 every day atDunstable, Newport, Northampton, Leicester, Nottingham, Sherburn, 

 &c. Sixty fresh herrings at York, nearly forty miles from the sea in a straight 

 line, cost eightpence, and fresh haddocks and codlings were also bought. 



