VENTJAGERS 105 



advantage of landing the herring early in the 

 season, when fresh herrings fetched large prices, 

 was lost. In order to secure the advantage of 

 early markets therefore, these ventjagers (fast 

 sailing vessels) used to accompany the Dutch 

 herring fleet, take up the early catches of 

 herrings, and sail with all speed to the Dutch 

 coast. Their place to-day is taken by steam 

 fish carriers which ferry the fish from the 

 vessels on the fishing-grounds to the British 

 ports. 



An early reference to these jagers appears 

 in the year 1556, but it only refers to the 

 fisheries near the mouths of rivers. The first 

 Dutch Law relating to the ventjagers at sea 

 appears to be that of 1604. 



The eagerness to reach markets early with 

 the first catches of herrings is often mentioned 

 in the records. The herrings, in ordinary cir- 

 cumstances, were conveyed by slow-moving 

 waggons and canal boats, but when the first 

 jagers arrived at the Dutch ports they were 

 met by fast-trotting horses in light gigs, capable 

 of carrying a few barrels of herring only. The 

 fish were then raced to the chief markets, and 

 to have the honour of appearing there first at 

 the beginning of the herring season was regarded 

 as a valuable advertisement. 



On the arrival of the first herrings in Dutch 

 mm cities the town crier announced the New Herring, 

 ■■ and flags were hung out of the houses. The 

 IB Festival of the Herring was to the Dutch as 



n 



