The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1907-08-08
A SCHOOL OF FISHING.
The Practical Belgians are Trying
TO Revive an Old Industry.


Some time ago a commission was
appointed to inquire into the cause
of the decline of the once flourishing
fishing industry along the Belgian
coast. After a careful investigation
the commission reported that foreign
competition was responsible for this
decline; the Belgian fishermen, the
report concluded, owing to their an
tiquated methods, were not able to
compete with their English, French,
and Norwegian brethren.
AS result of this report, the Bel
CLAN government decided that the
only way out of the difficulty was the
establishment OF schools of fishery,
where young Belgian fisher people
be educated into modern methods of
earning their livelihood. Conse-
quently a number of fishing schools
have been established on the coast at
Ostend, Blandenberghe and New
port.
OF these the Ostend school is the
most important, and model estab-
lishment of the kind. There every
facility is given to boys who have
chosen fishing as their trade to ac-
qrire all the knowledge they may
need, and to face the hardships of
their vocation. Beautiful museums,
containing the choicest and rarest
species OF fish, shells, birds, and in
struments of every description, sea
charts and maps, model boats repre-
senting every type of vessel, nets,
sails, and, in fact, everything per-
tanning to the fisherman's craft are
placed at the young students dis
posal.
The course of study at the school
lasts three years, during which time
the many secrets of the fishing trade
are revealed to the youthful Flem-
ings. A peep into some of the school
rooms reveals the methods of in
struction. Here one sees a large net
spread out on the ground, with a
number of boys seated on 1t, engaged
with repairs, while another group Of
youngsters are being taught an accu-
rate knowledge of the sextant, and
others still are being initiated into
the mysteries of rope splicing.
In another room a class of boys Is
studying the rules of the road at sea
and the exact position of the many
lightships In the North Sea. The
method of teaching this lesson is
both simple and practical. All that
Is required are some reliable sea
charts, few sets of tiny model ves-
sells, and printed directions, with the
assistance of which the boys can
learn In one day as much as a lengthy
voyage to sea could teach them. A
gigantic chart represents the bottom
of the sea, with its valleys, rocks.
and sand banks, stones, seaweeds,
and shells, and explains the oceans
hidden dangers and mysteries.
On the other hand, all the man.
oeuvers executed on board a fishing
boat are practiced on dry land; for
this purpose a full size model boat
has been erected in the grounds ad-
joining the school. The future esh-
erman is likewise taught the making
of nets and the handling of them at
sea, the cutting, sewing, and repair
ing of sails, the art of batting, dry
ing, smoking, and preserving fsh.
and the use of compass, log, and
hosting colors.
When the pupils have acquired all
this useful knowledge they are given
an opportunity to show their worth
at sea. A training ship is fitted up
with this end in view, and for several
weeks the student crew carries out
all its manoeuvers under the direc-
ton of the indefatigable school prin-
cipal. Thus the finishing touch Is
given to their education. When the
floating school returns to port its
occupants are considered to be thor
oughly fitted for their vocation and
have no difficulty in finding work.
This excellent practical education
is given entirely free, which explains
to a great extent why the number of
pupils is steadily increasing. The
regular classes comprise boys be-
tween the ages of twelve and nine
teen, but older men are admitted IL
they desire to perfect their knowl-
edge as fishermen.