THE RISE OF THE HERRING FISHERIES 135 



Belgium 



The famous seventeenth century herring fishery has practically 

 disappeared. The catch is now insignificant ; in fact, in 1863 the 

 fishery became extinct, but was resuscitated in 1907. 



In 1910 there was landed at Ostend, from Belgian boats, 481 

 tons of fresh herring, value £4052. French boats sold 163 tons for 

 £1000. 



According to the " Tableau general du Commerce avec les Pays 

 Strangers," the number of Belgian boats engaged in the small 

 herring fishery in 1912 was 184, the value of the catch £3612. In 

 the great herring fishery there were three boats engaged, and they 

 landed 10,367 cwt. of herring. 



Holland 



The herring fishery is said to have been carried on off the coasts 

 of Scotland by Scotsmen in the ninth century. Owing to the Con- 

 vention of the Royal Burghs having passed an edict, prohibiting 

 the exportation of herrings until the townsmen were fully supplied 

 at a stipulated price, the fishermen gave up the trade, and a number 

 went to Holland with their fishing boats and settled there, con- 

 tinuing to fish off the Scottish coast. This is said to have been the 

 means of directing the attention of the Dutch to the herring fishery 

 on the coasts of Scotland and England.^ 



Whether this view be correct or not, there can be no doubt about 

 the supremacy of the Dutch in the herring fisheries during the 

 sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. After the discovery of 

 Beukels, already referred to, the Dutch herrings acquired a reputa- 

 tion which those of no other country could attain. This reputation 

 was due to the great care which was employed in preserving them 

 when caught, and in curing and packing them. Laws and regula- 

 tions were established not only respecting the time and manner of 

 fishing, but also respecting every step to be taken in the preparation 

 of the herring for sale.* Many regulations affected the conduct of 

 the fishermen when at sea to prevent them from molesting, im- 

 peding or injuring one another. Fishermen are particularly enjoined 

 to pay their people only with money, and not with herrings, fish 

 of any kind, merchandise or provisions. 



' Gerard Malynes, " Consuetudo vel Lex Mercatoria," folio 1622, p. 189. 



' For these and many other interesting regulations of the " Grand Fishery," see 

 " Groot Placaet-Boeck vervattende de Placaaten Ordonantien onde Edicten van de 

 Doorluchtige Hoogh Mog. Heeren State Generael der Veernighde Nederlanden by 

 een gebracht door M. Cornells Caus' Graven Hage," 1658, in 8 vols. See especially 

 Vol. I, pp. 692-750. 



