374 THE HISTORY OF DUTCH SEA FISHERIES. 



the Dunkirkers,* in order, if possible, to discourage them 

 by withholding the price of their exploits ; and it may be 

 assumed that in these circumstances the Grand Fishery 

 fared veiy miserably even during the short periods of the 

 war when it was not subject to an actual prohibition. A 

 declaration proclaiming the mutual freedom of the fisheries 

 was agreed upon between the Dutch and French delegates 

 towards the close of the negotiations which in September, 

 1697, led to the peace of Rijswijk ; but the results of a six 

 years' war, in the course of which neither the efforts of the 

 allied English and Dutch fleets, nor Jean Bart's taking 

 regular service under the French colours, could quell the 

 Dunkirkers' audacious invasions, told heavily upon the 

 herring fishery at the end of the seventeenth century. The 

 " extraordinary " subsidy of 30,000 florins, which during 

 the war had been withdrawn and replaced by Government 

 convoy, was granted again on November $th, 1701, upon 

 the Grand Fishery's representation to the States of Holland, 

 to the effect that they had got deeply indebted during the 

 war, in consequence of many busses and several of the 

 College's own conveyers having been taken by the enemy, f 

 Nor was the end of their trials then at hand. The war 

 for the Spanish succession again brought the Republic and 

 France into the field as foes in 1702 ; and even before war 

 was declared by the States (May 8th) they once more, on 

 March 3Oth, laid an interdiction on all sea fishery.^ Now, 

 as in 1691, the interdiction was withdrawn on June 23rd, 

 the day before the opening of the herring season ; and this 

 time the Grand Fishery was, in consideration of its supreme 

 importance for the country's most vital interest, exempted 



* Res. Holl. June 22, Aug. 22, 25. 

 f Groot Placaetboek) v. p. 1 562. 

 \ Ibid. v. p. 376. 



