538 THE HISTORY OF DUTCH SEA FISHERIES. 



indeed, been in constant decline since bounties had first 

 been given. Accordingly, when in the course of the years 

 1830-50 Parliament began seriously to oppose protection, 

 th^ annual budget debates usually brought on a discussion 

 on fishery premiums. The latter were especially the object 

 of pretty general censure in the course of the debates on 

 the budget for 1850, when their gradual abolition was de- 

 manded in unequivocal terms. Sea-fishery bounties at this 

 period occasioned an average annual expenditure of about 

 two hundred thousand florins, or some 17,000 sterling, a 

 large sum for so small a State, especially as it was now felt 

 to be poured into a Danaid's vat ; and Government, besides 

 being opposed to premiums as a principle, was of course 

 anxious to reduce or if possible to stop this drain upon the 

 Exchequer. The Department for home affairs, under which 

 matters relative to national industry at the time resorted, 

 was then headed by no less a statesman than the great Mr. 

 Thorbecke ; and he saw clearly that bounties must be 

 stopped, and fishery laws must ultimately follow. A 

 reversed order of repeal might have been preferable, but a 

 good deal of inquiry had yet to be gone through before 

 determining how far the fishery law reform was to go. The 

 subject was dark and delicate, and it was not easy to pro- 

 cure information upon it unless from fishermen, who one 

 and all clung to the wisdom of their fathers and to the 

 country's money, and did their best to oppose or retard 

 reform. Meanwhile, to save money by simplifying institu- 

 tions (bezuiniging door vereenvoudiging] was at the time the 

 popular cry in home politics, and the treasury interest was 

 imperative against the continuation of premiums. Their 

 abolition (by degrees of course) was therefore resolved upon ; 

 and all sea-fishery bounties were reduced by one-tenth by 

 royal decree of February 27th, 1851 (Staatscourant No. 52), 



