n3] THE GREAT HERRTNG FISHERIES. 353 



otherwise employed, when the vessels can be nsed for other fisheries, 

 so that an extra income is derived which may aid to pay the interest 

 ou the capital invested, and eventually the capital itself. 



At all times the question has frequently been discussed whether 

 the herring-fisheries can be furthered by any measures taken by the 

 Government, and as the Dutch fisheries enjoj-ed the greatest reputation, 

 these measures generally aimed at creating fisheries like the great Dutch 

 herring-fisheries. In Sweden, Axel Oxenstierna endeavored to create 

 large fisheries on the Dutch model. For a long time he carried on 

 negotiations with England for a treaty by which Swedish subjects 

 should be permitted to fish in English waters, and Cromwell finally con- 

 sented to let 1,000 Swedish vessels fish on the English and Dutch coasts. 

 Gottenburg- was granted special privileges as regards the herring-fish- 

 eries on the Dutch model. The great herring-fisheries which were 

 aimed at, however, neA'^er developed properly. During the eighteenth 

 century a Stockholm firm, A. & J. Arfwedsou & Co., was granted the 

 privilege of carrying on herring and cod fisheries in the Dutch manner, 

 and they carried on these fisheries for several years. Vessels were fit- 

 ted out which every year were engaged in the herring-fisheries, during 

 midsummer near the Shetland Islands, and later in the season near 

 the coast of Bohusliin. But these fisheries gradually gave way to the 

 Bohuslan coast fisheries. This was possibly caused by the circum- 

 stance that the herring which during the interval between the herring 

 periods visited the coast of Bohuslan were of an excellent quality. 

 Although they could not in every respect be compared with those caught 

 near the Shetland Islands, they nevertheless were so mncli like these 

 that the difference in quality was not sufiiciently great to Justify people 

 in paying the higher price demanded for the Shetland herring. In 

 consequence the coast fisheries injui^d the Bohuslan high-sea herring- 

 fisheries during the greater portion of the last Bohuslan herring period. 



Similar attempts were made in Denmark and Norway without much 

 result. In France the Government, after the loss of her American col- 

 onies, made efforts to introduce herring-fisheries on the Dutch model j 

 and by making enormous sacrifices France has succeeded in creating 

 very considerable herring-fisheries in the North Sea and in the Channel. 

 In Germany efforts have also been made to further the development of 

 such fisheries, and by engaging some Dutch fishermen the Germans 

 have succeeded in catching about 5,200 barrels of herring in 1881, and 

 7,200 barrels in 1882 — in truth, a very trifling quantity. In Scotland 

 vigorous efforts were made during the seventeenth and eighteenth cen- 

 turies to introduce herring-fisheries on the Dutch plan. During the 

 eighteenth century hundreds of thousands of pounds sterling were paid 

 as premiums to persons fitting out vessels and preparing fish on the 

 Dutch i^lan, but without the desired result, except to show what an in- 

 centive premiums are. The whole system has been well characterized 

 by Adam Smith, in his famous work on the " Wealth of Nations," when 

 H. Mis. 67 23 " 



