140 THE SEA FISHERIES 



from fourteen to sixteen men and boys, and there can be no question 

 but that these hookers were extremely heavy vessels to work. 

 About 1858 the old hand-made hemp nets were replaced gradually 

 by factory-made cotton nets from Scotland ; the hookers being 

 extensively replaced by the bom-schuits. These vessels closely 

 resembled the hookers in the construction of the hull, but the rig 

 was completely altered. The mainmast was shortened, the main- 

 sail being replaced by a fore-and-aft sail with a short gaff. Some- 

 times a small mizzen was retained and all these bom-schuits carried 

 a lee-board. A hand capstan was carried and the rig being much 

 easier to work, the crew only consisted of eight men. Still later 

 saiUng vessels of the model and rig of the English first-class sailing 

 trawler were introduced into the Dutch herring fisheries ; these 

 vessels being fitted with a steam capstan have quite outclassed the 

 bom-schuits. As will be seen from the following statistics, the 

 Dutch have only gone in sparingly for steam drifters, but it must 

 not be forgotten that the Dutch fishermen do not, hke the Britisher, 

 run into port daily with their fish. 



Most of the Dutch authorities attribute the revival to the abolition 

 of the monopolies in 1857-9, ^^^ ^^^ Government brand in 1878 ; 

 other causes were the introduction of cotton nets, and particularly 

 the use of keeled vessels, cutters and luggers for the heavy old 

 " hookers." In 1872 the Dutch herring fleet consisted of 108 keeled 

 vessels and 208 bumboats, the total number being 316 ; in 1903 

 there were 463 keeled vessels, 268 bumboats, 44 steam drifters, 

 3 motor vessel and 5 logger-bommen (a composite type), the total 

 being 781. In 1910 the numbers were 500 keeled vessels, 38 

 steam drifters, i steam lugger, 3 sailing vessels with auxiliary 

 steam engines, 5 motor boats, 6 logger-bommen, 167 bommen, 



tot 3.1 ^20 



The remarkable increase in the Dutch herring export trade is 

 shown in the following table :— 



Average annual export 1861-70 • • 19.710 barrels. 



^ „ 1871-80 .. 75.322 „ 



1881-90 .. 227,200 



1891-1900 .. 316,308 



;, 1901-05 •• 575,560 „ 

 1905-09 .. 575.744 

 1910 .. 619.493 .. 



Tn View of the intense competition tliat now exists for the hetiinj 

 „a*Sthl statistics of the trend of the Dutch exports are not 



^vithout interest. 



