Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1909-12-02
THE MIGHTY HERRING
plaved a Star Role In the History
Of Some Nations.
COST ONE KING HIS LIFE.

The Herring Fisheries PROVED an I'm
oortant Factor In the Overthrow and
Ultimate Execution BY the Headsman
a. Charles /. Of England.
tale as stirring as any fiction could
no based on the part played by the sea
herring in the history Of some Of the
principal countries. writes Hugh M.
smith in the National Geographic Mag
.,ine. Its spawning and feeding
.rounds have determined the location
~ cities. and in several instances the
actual destiny of nations and the fate
of monarchs appear to have been in
volyed in the herring fishery. Even
today the herring Is q factor In en-
pre-
Countries In which the quest Of the
herring is an important industry are
the United States. the Canadian prov
inces of New Brunswick. Nova Scotia,
Quebec and British Columbia. New
foundland, England. Scotland. Wales
and Ireland. Norway, Sweden and
denmark, Russia. Germany. Holland,
Belgium, France. Japan and Siberia.
The prosecution Of the herring fish
orv and trade has been considered not
beneath the dignity of nobility and
royalty. Fitz-Greene Halleck tells us
that
Lord Stafford mines for coal and salt.
The Duke Of Norfolk deals in malt,
The Douglas in red behring's.
In 1877 the Duke Of York and other
personages Of rank formed corpora
ton called 1.-The Company of the Royal
Fishery of England" for the purpose
Of carrying on the herring fishery in
the North sea. They built feet Of
Dutch "busses" and manned them
with Dutch fishermen and then were
bankrupted by the capture of their
vessels during a war with France. In
| 1920 some 1000 Of 1.-The principal gen.
| tlemen Of Scotland" formed a COM
| pany for herring fishing. but were
| quickly disrupted. leaving a nournful
lot Of stockholders.
In 1850 the Prince of Wales became
president. or governor. of herring
| fishery. with a capital Of $2.5OO,OOO.
whose members were among the first
men in the kingdom" one of the pro-
motors being General James Ogle-
thorpe. founder of the state Of Geor-
gia Stock was taken with eagerness.
vessels were built quickly. and efforts
were made to learn the secrets of the
Dutch methods Of curing herring, but
the company soon suspended. and its
fotl hn iSb
fishery an odium that continued for a
long time.
1t is Il matter OF great historical in
terest that the herring fisheries should
have been a prime and perhaps the
most important factor in the over
throw of Charles l.. whose attitude
toward the development of home and
colonial fisheries was most unreason-
able and unfortunate. At a time when
the Dutch herring fishery had attained
such magnitude and Importance that
1t was regarded as the right arm Of
Holland and when the sturdy Dutch
fishermen were pursuing their lucra-
i've calling under the encouragement
OF their government the English peo-
pie were chatting under the grievous
restrictions imposed by royal approval
On all who desired to engage in fishing
anywhere off the American coast be-
tween the fortieth and forty eighth de-
grees Of north latitude.
Ihls effort on the part Of the crown
% interfere with the cherished privi-
ege OF free fishing had begun under
James and was bequeathed to Charles
and was perhaps the first in the series
VI Iarreaching differences that sprung
Up relative to the prerogative Of the
crown as against the rights of the SUBJ
ject
AT the same time there was another
resurrection placed on the fishermen at
nome. When James assembled the
'nrohe OF England his navy consisted
" out thirteen vessels. and Charles
succeeded to war feet but little
stronger and utterly inadequate to
cope with the navy of the Dutch or
French.
alter Charles had been successfully
upposed by the commons in his plan to
lave no fishing conducted on the
- u !. shores except by permission
Tue company Of "noblemen. knights
a.u gentlemen" known as the council
" plymouth he levied ship money"
~ the fishing and mercantile vessels
r,. aoine In order to build up his navy.
~ WIN the distinct object Of breaking
~ 'ne Dutch herring fishery on the
rSores OF England and driving the
a ~u.eh from 1.-THE four narrow seas"
tion 'ieo Jul ''u
.. the expense of the fisheries and
+ho 'sation Charles finally fitted out
has largest war feet England had ever
u ana succeeded in his purpose so
.s ~ as the Dutch were concerned. but
sN s ,evying of ship money stirred
~ ~ eisil war at home, and Charles paid
'ue extreme penalty.
I'm, The Exception.
cluby' s nours d. youf