256 HISTORY OF THE 



Scottifh filheries with fuch afliduity and perfeve- 

 rancc, that it is conjeftnred they have thereby rea- 

 lized three hundred million fterling, while the .in- 

 fatuated natives were mere dabblers both in taking 

 and curing. 



The Dutch have trie reputation of being the firft 

 who obferved the feveral feafons of the pafiage of 

 the herrings, and their firft regular fifhery is, by 

 their own hiftorians, fixed at 1163. They alfo 

 claim the merit of being the firft who difcovered the 

 | fecret of pickling and of drying herrings, which they 

 afcribe to William Benkelen of Biervlet, near Sluys, 

 who died in 1397, and whofe memory was held in 

 fuch veneration for the fervice he had rendered man- 

 kind, that the emperor Charles V. and the queen of 

 Hungary, made a journey on purpofe to vifit his 

 tomb. Such is the refpedt paid to thofe who pickle 

 and barrel with dexterity. 



The merit claimed by the Dutch, of being the firft 

 in this line, is not however founded in truth ^ fince it 

 is evident that herrings were cured both in Britain 

 and on the continent, long before Benkelen's time, 

 though it is probable that he made forne improve- 

 ments thereon; which his countrymen have carried to 

 the higheft degree of perfection, as well as the pre- 

 paring or qualifying their fait. By their ingenuity 

 and perfeverance, they have reduced the whole bu- 

 finefs of the fifheries into a regular fyftem, which, 

 it would be the intereft of other dates to follow. 

 They have likewife b:en wifely aided from time to 

 time, by their refpe&ive provincial legiflatures,, not 

 only in every privilege and fupport, but alfo a well- 

 digefted body of laws and regulations, extending to 

 the moft minute circumftance, from the commence- 

 ment of the out-fit, to the export of the herrings ; 

 and to all perfons of whatever profeflion or denomi- 

 nation, from the day-labourer to the merchant; 

 enforced by oaths, and by penalties, adapted to the 



nature 



