16 THE DUTCH GRAND FISHERY 
them “men, victuals, barrels, more salt and nets,” and 
took away the cured herring, selling them at the various 
towns in Russia, Sweden, Denmark, Poland, Prussia and 
France. 
Gentleman remarks on the Dutch fishing laws which 
forbade the bringing of herring into Holland unless fit to 
be barrelled. Fish not fit to be barrelled were sold to 
Yarmouth merchants, for immediate consumption, the best 
fish were given the best brand, and barrelled for use in Lent ; 
these were sent to all the towns in France, where they 
commanded a high price. 
He mentions also the fact that there were other Dutch 
fishermen who fished all the year round for cod, and ling. 
These used “ Pincks” and “ Well-boats,” of from thirty 
to forty tons. In addition, the Hollanders had “ Fly 
Boats,’ which rode at anchor all the season on the fishing 
grounds, off the North East of Shetland, and which had 
cobles with them from which the fishermen fished with 
lines and hooks, “ whereby they do take great store of 
Lings, the which they do not barrel, but split them, and salt 
them in the ship’s bulk; and these they sell commonly 
for four and five pounds the hundred, and these go by the 
name of Holland lings, but they are taken out of his Majesty’s 
seas, and were Shetland lings before they took them there, 
and for these lings they do carry away abundance of 
England’s best money daily.”” Gentleman’s pamphlet con- 
cludes with a lament that the English will not bestir them- 
selves and take part in this harvest of the sea: ‘“‘ Not one 
of his Majesty’s subjects is there to be seen, all the whole 
summer, to fish, or to take in herring, but only the North 
Sea boats of the sea coast towns, that go to take cods; 
they do take so many as they need to bait their hooks and 
no more.” 
1See for various regulations regarding Branding of Herring Barrels, 
Beaujon’s Essay, p. 39 onwards. 
