532 THE HISTORY OF DUTCH SEA FISHERIES. 



herring-ships fished for cod in winter, using a gear of 

 somewhat different description called beug ; whence the 

 business was called beugvaart. Hook-fishery was thus a 

 resource for all herring-fishers to keep their capital con- 

 stantly in activity ; and the concern was the more 

 profitable, as several kinds of fish (cod, haddock, plaice, 

 &c.) were caught on the hooks, and an abundance of one 

 sometimes made up for a scarcity of another. I have not 

 found any separate and complete accounts of hook-fishery 

 by busses during the period now spoken of* But whatever 

 its actual importance, it certainly served to keep busses 

 afloat at times when market restrictions could not squeeze 

 a profit out of the herring returns, nor premiums cover 

 herring losses ; and it will be observed that this precious 

 resource in all seasons and for all fishermen was solely due 

 to the fact that, beyond a few restrictions as to herring 

 caught by cod-fishers, which have been spoken of above, 

 there was no legislation on hook-fisJiery. And even these 

 restrictions served to show the futility of the herring laws. 

 Hook-fishers were allowed to cure herring caught by them 

 after the 1 5th of July ; but in order to prevent any danger- 

 ous competition for the Grand Fishery, they were enjoined 

 to pack their herring as " mixed " (pngezonderd\ sell it in 

 open barrels, and have it branded with a peculiar mark.f 

 In spite of these several disadvantages, and, so to speak, 

 marks of infamy, it is fully proved that birring of this 



* The importance of winter hook-fishery on the Dogger bank (beng- 

 vaarf) is shown by Appendix I. 



f The mark consisted in the word " kerf." North sea hook-fishers 

 were called kervers (or, in former centuries, corners), from the 

 customary carving of haddock and flat-fish ; whence herring cured by 

 them, although it was not apparently submitted to any other carving 

 than consistent with the common method of curage, used to be called 

 kerfharing* 



