1192 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OP FISH AND FISHERIES. [10] 



9.— THE FISHEEIES OF AMSTERDAM IN 1832. 



By D. Eckstein, Consul. 



The statements and tables of this article are based largely upon a re- 

 port recently made by the board of fisheries of the Netherlands, for 

 the year 1881, relating to the Dutch sea and coast fishing interests. 



The herring catch of 1881 was not so great as that of the previous 

 year, but as the prices realized for the article were so much higher, the 

 total value of the catch exceeded that of former yejirs, and amounted 

 to nearly 4,000,000 florins* [$1,540,000]. The best foreign markets for 

 these herring are South Germany, Belgium, and the United States. A 

 sharp competition from France in the export trade of the article was met 

 during the past two years in the Eussian market, especially also in that 

 of Stettin. 



Eespecting the quality of the Dutch herring, it seems worth noticing 

 that they are held somewhat superior to all others, and are preferred 

 in the trade even to the Scotch article, and this principally on account 

 of the particular care and attention paid to their preparation and as- 

 sorting, and they consequently command usually a slightly higher price 

 of about from 5 to 10 per cent. 



The craft now chiefly employed in the sea and coast fisheries of this 

 country consist of luggers and cutters. Sloops and the so-called 

 " hockers," formerly much in use, have been almost entirely aban- 

 doned. 



Before 1880 no herring were shipped to the United States in full casks 

 (tuns), but invariably in " sixteenths; " butinthat year whole casks were 

 first exported, and iu the following year, 1881, the exports in whole 

 casks amountec} to 1,800. The difference in the cost of barrels, labor, 

 freight, &c., between whole casks and " sixteenths" is estimated to be 

 about 7 florins [$2.70] per tun or cask ; or, iu other words, a whole cask 

 of herring can be furnished to the American trade at about 7 florins 

 less than 16 of the small kegs. 



Product of ihe herring fisheries in the North Sea from 1872 1o 1881, inclusive. 



* A Dutch florin = 38| cents ; a kilogram =2^ pounds; an anker = 5 pecks (all ap 

 proximately). 



