Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-10-15
SCHOOLS OF FISHERY
BELGIUM'S TECHNICAL EDUCA-
TON FOR HER FIsHER-FoLK.
Lessons in the Habits of Sea Dwellers
and the Bait They
Like.
fence London Express.

Brussels Correspondence London Express.
1t is generally supposed that good fisher
men are like poets, born. not made; and
that the art of Turing the willy whiting or
the crafty eel is a gift of the gods. and not
the result of mere ordinary intelligence.
But the people of Belgium are not of this
opinion, and with the desire OF turning out
first-class fishermen they have instituted
professional schools of fishery. These
schools are proving most successful. AL
ready the interest Of France has been
aroused in the subject, and Dunkirk-that
great fishing center-will probably before
long boast a similar useful institution.
Though only a little over forty miles in
length, the coast OF Belgium was formerly
the haunt of squadrons of fishing boats be-
longing to Its people; but of late years 1t
has been recognized that the fishing indus
try was falling off. Much was being i'm
ported from neighboring countries. With
that business acumen which distinguishes
the modern Belgian it was thought possible
that the decrease in the supply OF fish might
be due to the incompetence of the fisher
men; and 1t was decided by small group
OF private persons to give a better education
to those who go down to the sea in Ships"
and so raise a class of men fully able to
compete with their rivals. With this object
three professional schools of fishery have
been established at Ostend at Newport
that once most important harbor-and at
Blankenberghe.
Thorough Teaching.
Here the lads and youths who have
chosen the sea as their calling may. thor
oughly learn the fisherman's trade in all its
branches. At the end Of three years the
best pupils emerge capable Of becoming
master fishermen. owners of boats. and
leaders of men. These schools. which have
existed since 1890. undoubtedly doing ex-
cellent work in replacing mere rule of
thumb information by more accurate
knowledge, are in the hands of the clergy,
who look carefully after the moral training
of their pupils, and endeavor to train them
mentally to face the hardships and temp
tations of their dangerous occupation.
The average annual attendance at the
three schools Is about one hundred. Every
year sees more pupils demanding admit
lance, many Of those young men who for
merly gave up fishing from want Of boats
now returning to look for their bread upon
the waters as did their fathers before them.
The instruction given Is absolutely free.
The ages Of the youths range from thirteen
to nineteen. The classes comprise young
sters aspiring to that doubtfully happy po-
sition Of mousse" or boy" on some fish
ing craft $50 well described by Kipling in
Captains Coura geous"), and those older
who have already been to sea, but yet are
glad to avail themselves of the free teach
ing.
The Squeers' System.
Much of this is given in school rooms In
the long winter evenings, but instruction Is
both theoretical and practical, and there
are floating school rooms. where the pupils
may be said to practice the Saueers' system
Of education. Readers of Dickens will re-
member that that ingenious instructor of
youth believed in the immediate application
Of knowledge gained. and that scholars
spelling horse" were Immediately ordered
to groom his nag The idea has certain
amount of reason. In the same way the
professional fishery school boys not only
spell boat but learn how to handle it.
These craft serve also as nautical mu-
seums. School is generally held here on
Sundays. on which day all the fishing boats
try to return to their own ports. Geog-
raphy is widely taught. also the various
soundings of the sea. The three RS must
also be mastered in Flemish. which is the
language universally used by the fishing
population Of Belgium. The art of splicin.
ropes and making of two hundred nautical
knots. as well as the way to manufacture
and repair nets. and the best method to
cast them are also taught Also cutting
sewing and tanning of those brown sails
whose richness of color is Joy to the eve;
the application of steam. at least in so far
as Its relation goes to the noisy donkey
engine: the habits and favorite bait of fish
with all sorts of secrets known only to
fishermen.