LORD OF THE FISHES 117 



The herring-fair died hard, however, for it was 

 described in 1785 by an eye-witness. About fifty 

 schuyts sailed up the Yare, all on the Friday evening, 

 and when they were moored alongside the quay the 

 wide-breeched Dutchmen sat on deck in the moonlight 

 and smoked peacefully. Great crowds of people went 

 to see them, many going to Yarmouth from places like 

 Norwich. During the war with France the fair was 

 discontinued for many years. After the peace of 1814 

 it was revived, but in an imperfect fashion. A fleet of 

 schuyts sailed into Yarmouth Roads. A fair was held 

 on the beach, and there were many exchanges of good- 

 will between the two peoples who had been such bitter 

 and inveterate enemies. The visit, however, resolved 

 itself mostly into taking in water for the schuyts, and, 

 having done that, the ample Dutchmen and their clean, 

 bright, picturesque craft sailed away after the herring. 

 From that time the custom of holding the fair slowly 

 but surely died. To-day, however, there remains at 

 Yarmouth the ancient and impressive custom of blessing 

 the herring-nets in the majestic old church of St. 

 Nicholas. 



The vast importance of the herring-fishery for many 

 centuries has been recorded in contemporary papers, 

 none of which are more interesting than those relating 

 to the period of the three Dutch wars. 



The fish were so abundant at Yarmouth in October 

 1666 that there was not salt enough to save them; a 

 prize had been taken containing 156 weigh of salt, and 

 j, i os. a weigh was offered for the salt, so that the 

 fish might be preserved. A quaint reason was given 

 for the plentiful supplies of fish that the Dutch had 



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