DIFFEKENT MODES OF FISHING THE HERRING. 103 



fore they can be used. {Dutch Fishei-y Lmvs, Art. 83-98.) 

 The Dutch always shoot their nets at sunset, throwing 

 them to the windward, or in such a way as the wind may 

 prevent the vessel coming upon them. The whole of the 

 nets are attached to four strong ropes joined to each 

 other, and are taken in before sunrise by a capstan 

 worked by four or five men, and are shaken out by other 

 four men. The herrings are immediately thereafter gutted 

 and assorted into distinctive qualities, — such as "voU" 

 (full of milt or roe), " matjes" (milt and roe small), 

 "ylen" (shotten or empty), besides other subordinate de- 

 scriptions connected with the quality, as may be seen 

 where the Dutch mode of curing is described. Eight 

 men are employed in gutting and four in packing. 

 " Jagers" (pronounced yagers), fast-sailing vessels, attend 

 to carry the first herrings to the Dutch and Hamburg 

 markets. 



The following are the rules to be observed by the Dutch 

 fishing vessels and jagers during the jager season : — 



" (1.) The signals pointing out to what ports the jagers 

 are destined are, — to Vlaardingen and Hamburg, a blue 

 flag ; to Maassluys, a Dutch flag ; and to Amsterdam, a 

 white flag ; — each having a herring buss painted on it. 



" (2.) When a sufficient quantity of herrings are caught 

 by the busses, a flag is hoisted at the top-mast, and the 

 jager hoists a flag under the signal to show that the 

 signal has been observed. 



" (3.) The busses are to remain as near as convenient 

 to each other and to the jagers ; and the jagers must be 

 in the latitude of Shetland at the time fixed by law. 



" (4.) The busses are not to deliver herrings to any 

 other than the jagers appointed. 



" (5.) The jagers shall sail from the fleet in the order 



