44 BENEFITS DERIVED FROM A GOOD FISHERY. [CHAP. n. 



had at one time this great source of wealth all to themselves. 

 At that particular period, likewise, there was no limit to the 

 supply, the fishermen having but to dip their nets in the 

 water in order to have them filled. No wonder, therefore, 

 that the fisheries of Holland grew into a prominent industry, 

 and became at one time the one absorbing hobby of the nation. 

 Busses in large fleets were fitted out and manned, till in time 

 the Dutch came to be reputed as the greatest fishers in the 

 world. But great as was the fishing industry of those days 

 in Holland, and industrious as the Dutch undoubtedly were, 

 it is evident that there has been a considerable amount of 

 exaggeration as to the results, more especially in regard to 

 the enormous quantities of fish that are said to have been 

 captured and cured. But whatever this total might be was 

 not of great consequence. The mere quantity of fish caught 

 is perhaps, although a considerable one, the smallest of the 

 many benefits conferred on a nation by an energetic pursuit 

 of its fisheries. The fishermen must have boats, and these 

 must be fitted with sails, rigging, etc. ; and, moreover, the 

 boats must be manned by an efficient crew ; then the curing 

 and sale of the fish give employment to a large number of 

 people as well; whilst the articles of cure as salt, barrels, 

 etc. must of necessity be largely provided, and are all of 

 them the result of some kind of trained industry : and all 

 these varied circumstances of demand combine to feed the 

 particular industrial pursuit I am describing. And the fisheries 

 provide, besides, a grand nursery for seamen, which is, per- 

 haps, in a country like ours, having a powerful navy, the 

 greatest of all the benefits conferred. 



I have taken the pains to collate as many of the figures 

 of the Dutch fishery as I could collect during an industrious 

 search, and I find that, in the zenith of its prosperity, after 

 the proclamation of the independence of the States of Holland, 

 three thousand boats were employed in her own bays, while 



