400 



Part III. — Seventh Annual Report 



appliances peculiar to Holland, the second dealing with every kind of fish 

 caught, a description of the engines employed, the selling price, and the 

 general statistics of the fisheries. The Dutch fisheries till 1857 were 

 subject to repressive regulations, but in that year the Government con- 

 sidering liberty synonymous with commercial progress, swept away the 

 hurtful restrictions, and the value of the herring fisheries rose from 

 030,000 florins in 1857 to 1,879,880 florins in 1880. 



By the first article of the new law complete liberty was ensured to every 

 fisherman to carry on his calling as he thought best. A second article 

 abolished the prohibition to import salted herrings in kegs, but tempor- 

 arily forbade the importation of salted herrings in bulk. Regulations as 

 to fishing boats were enacted and measures were taken to conserve and 

 develop the marine fisheries. A State Committee of fifteen members was 

 entrusted with the management of the fisheries, — including a lawyer as 

 president, an ichthyologist, two university professors of zoology, an expert 

 in oyster culture, a member of the States-General, the director of a society 

 of fisheries, a naval officer, five shipowners, and two citizens, one of 

 Rotterdam, and one of Harderwijk. This committee has consultative and 

 administrative powers, superintends the enforcement of the regulations, 

 nominates the functionaries who are charged with fishery inspection, 

 advises the ministry in cases of litigation, makes known desirable reforms, 

 presents an annual report and publishes practical manuals on the fisheries. 

 Dr P. P. C. Hoek was a year or two ago appointed the Scientific Adviser 

 in fishery matters. 



The first division of the report gives in detail an account of the 

 different kinds of boats employed and the fish tanks in these. The coast 

 fishermen are then described. The principal species of fish taken are tur- 

 bot, brill, sole, plaice, dab, skate, and cod, The different kinds of gear, nets 

 and lines and the means taken to preserve these, and a detailed description 

 of the working of nets and gear, and the distribution of profits among 

 boat, sailors, &c. are given. Questions in regard to salt and transport 

 precede a short notice of the Committee'!? Zoological Station, which ends 

 the first division of the report. 



The second half includes an interesting account of starfish, oysters, 

 mussels, shrimps, sturgeons, skate, eels, cod, sprats, salmon, herring 

 and other fish. Britain received 764,000 kilos of oysters in 1881, being 

 a half of the whole produce of oysters of the Netherlands, and that, too, 

 when it might be possible for Britain to rear most of its own oysters if 

 the subject were courageously, intelligently and systematically grappled 

 with. The saving of the great sums annually spent on imported oysters, 

 and the cultivation of oysters on the most improved principles, would 

 warrant more attention and time being devoted to this subject. The chief 

 conclusions which Dr Sauvage impresses on the ministry as having learned 

 from his various journeys to fishing ports, and which are fitted to foster 

 the fishing industries of France, are the abolition of certain restrictive 

 salt dues, the reduction of rates of carriage, and the more careful pre- 

 servation of herrings. Valuable tables relating to the quantities of 

 herrings caught and the market prices obtained for these bring a most 

 interesting and valuable report to a conclusion. 



Dr Sauvage also has a lengthy report on the fishery apparatus and fishery 

 products of the countries represented at the Fisheries Exhibition, held in 

 London in 1883.* It deals with the fishery industry in a very exhaustive 

 manner, and is likely to be of great service to the fishermen of the coasts 

 of France. 



* Rapport sur exposition, Internationale a Lonulres on 1883, ties Products et engines 

 de Ptehe, par M. H. E. Sauvage. Paris, 1881. 



