THE HISTORY OF DUTCH SEA FISHERIES. 535 



terous obstinacy than it was in matters of sea-fishery, as 

 soon as modern ideas began to prevail in the question. 



Considerable light was thrown on the subject in 1842, 

 when Belgium increased its import duties on foreign fish, 

 to the prejudice of Dutch sea-fisheries ; and fishing ship- 

 owners loudly clamoured for more efficient protection. The 

 public mind was then strongly turned towards the question 

 of fishery protection ; and it became apparent that it was 

 impossible to allow the several fisheries more protection than 

 they enjoyed ; while at the same time that naked fact, that 

 tlie branches most strongly protected declined in spite of pro- 

 tection, was urged on the public's notice. The measures 

 proposed by the writers in the fishery interest were to 

 augment premiums, which expedient the Treasury interest 

 forbade to adopt, and to retaliate on Belgium by elevating 

 the duties, not on their fish, which was prohibited as it was, 

 but on sundry other articles imported from the former 

 southern provinces. The duties in Belgium were reduced 

 some years afterwards. But, in the meantime, the brisk 

 interchange of pamphlets and leading articles occasioned in 

 1842 by the Belgian protective measure, had the result of 

 bringing the subject of sea-fishery legislation in its full 

 extent before the Dutch public's eye. 



A breach in the system, however, was not made till 1846; 

 and it was not then a wound in a vital part. It was 

 reported by the Grand Fishery Committee in Holland, that 

 in 1845 herring entirely ripe had been caught by Scotch 

 fishermen some time before the consecrated opening of the 

 Dutch cure-herring fishery, so that the produce of the latter 

 was late in the market, much to the shipowners' and 

 dealers' detriment. A Bill was brought in, and passed 

 without opposition, by which Government was empowered 

 to anticipate the opening date of the Grand Fishery by a 



