338 THE HISTORY OF DUTCH SEA FISHERIES. 



(or the 24th of June) in 1588* as an evidence of the un- 

 certainty about, and probably the variations of, the true fit 

 herring-season. It cannot be doubted that by these suc- 

 cessive enactments fishermen have often been prevented 

 from exercising their trade at times when it might have 

 been done with a fair result. To bind a business to certain 

 dates and seasons is at all times a dangerous practice in 

 legislation ; but whenever nature shows the fit season for 

 such an industry to be variable, all restrictions ought to be 

 abolished at once. The mere fact that an alteration of 

 laws of this nature is found necessary should be a reason to 

 repeal them altogether ; for there can in that case be no 

 certainty that the new law is better than the old. 



The treatment, or mode of handling f herring when 

 caught, is accurately prescribed in the State's placard of 

 1582. Besides a reiteration of former prohibitions against 

 disposing of herring either abroad or at sea, the masters of 

 herring-busses are enjoined on their responsibility, and 

 under considerable penalties, to see that the fish be laid in 

 the barrels in regular layers, four in length, from bottom to 

 bottom. The packing of bad herring together with good 

 is severely prohibited, and it should be noticed that the 

 sale of the very worst \ article was allowed, provided it 

 should be classed and owned as such when sold. 



* See also a placard dated March 17th, 1593, Gr. Placaetboek, 

 vol. i. pp. 726-29, where the date is likewise fixed at " St. John's Day 

 in midsummer." 



t " Havenen," a word actually used only in the sense of "damag^ 

 ing." 



% " Yelen-, nachtschamel-, kuytsieck-, melk-sieck-, stanck ofte want 

 haring." The latter words were substituted in 1584 for the original 

 term : sterke haring. The one means " stinking," the other " bad " 

 or " strong," in the sense of " strong butter." " Kuytsieck " and 

 " melk-sieck " are the words indicating extreme ripeness of the spawn 



