THE HERRING. 259 



A great trade formerly carried on with this fish. 



incrce in herrings was likewise established in the 

 Baltic about the same period. This decree 

 granted to the Humburghers a certain district in 

 the island of Schonen, where they might remain 

 during the herring fishery, and erect booths at 

 the time of the fair. In the fourteenth century 

 a fair for herrings was established at Yarmouth; 

 Edward III. in 1357, ordered that the fishermen 

 should sell their herrings only in that town. The 

 Dutch, who had before purchased the herrings 

 on the coasts, of Scotch fishermen, and supplied 

 other nations with them, were in consequence 

 obliged to send out vessels themselves to the 

 fishery. In the same century, we are told by 

 Maizieres, the trade in herrings was very consi- 

 derable on the Norwegian coast. He says, that 

 in this country above three thousand men as- 

 sembled in the months of September and October 

 to fish for herrings : this is still one of the prin- 

 cipal branches of national industry, and brings 

 into that kingdom annually several tons of gold. 

 Deal, of which wood the Norwegians make their 

 casks, communicates to the herrings a taste that 

 js riot generally liked, but of which the Poles are 

 extremely fond. A few years since, the Danish 

 government ordered that the casks used for her- 

 rings should be made of oak ; but a great de- 

 crease was soon observed to take place in the 

 quantity sold. The Poles found that the herrings 

 wanted the usual flavor, and the Danish govern- 

 ment was obliged to annul its command. 

 2 K 2 



