Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-09-12
SUPPLY
FISH CUT OFF
BY ENGLAND
Considered Important Factor In
Allies Blockade

Inc f1aSUoy INetnSElduuS, aug. Ia
Great Britain. which has been regard
ing with growing displeasure the pro-
visioning Of Germany with fish from
Holland has now brought the matter
to head by seizure Of some 100 ves-
sells Of the Dutch fishing feet and they
the now lying under arrest in the
Scotch ports Of Peterhead, Aberdeen.
Lerwick and Kirkwall. Unless an ar
rangement is reached, they are ap-
parently to be taken before the Brit
ish Prize Court on the ground that
their catches are contraband because
the final destination thereof is Ger
many.
Even before the war Germany was
the best customer Of the Dutch Ash
ermen, but the effect Of the maritime
blockade Of the Allies had been to so
greatly increase that country's pur-
chases on the fish market here as to
give it a practical monopoly Of Hol-
lands exports. The net export Of
various sorts of sea- fish in recent
| years has amounted to about 10000
tons year, representing value OF
between SS,0e0,000 and s12,2000,0 900.
Partly as result of less competition
on the fishing grounds Of the North
Sea and consequent bigger catches
and doubtless partly owing to the
highly remunerative prices obtainable,
there was an enormous increase in the
exports last year, 10000 tons Of fresh
seafsh and sailed and smoked her.
ring alone being sent out Of the coun-
try. Germany's share of the exports
of fresh sea-f1sh and sailed herring
was no less than 144,90o tons. as
against only $1,000 in 1914 and $500
in 1913 Sales to other countries fell
off proportionately. America, for in
stance, at ordinary times draws a GER
tain amount Of herring from Holland.
but the total Of 14,247 tons dispatched
thither in 1913 fell to 1893 tons last
year, and now the herring export to
the United States seems to have en-
tirely stopped. the total for the first
six months Of the current year being
only eight tons.
Such figures make clear what q
hindrance the Dutch fishing industry
has constituted to the Allies blockade
Of the Central Powers, and sufficiently
explain their anxiety to bring about a
change In this state Of affairs. par
ticularly II it be remembered that.
while British fishing trawlers are be-
ing sent to the bottom of the sea by
German submarines, these Dutch craft
are hauling in their loaded nets for tho
German markets right under the noses
OF British naval guns.
The question is. however, an ex.
ceedingly difficult and complicated
one, for some 10000 to $4,000 seamen
and others earn their livelihood in the
Dutch fishing and connected indus.
tries; Hollands own fish supply IL
also involved; an indemnity, 1t Is ar
gued, could not counterbalance the
far reaching harmful effects Of the
laying up Of the fishing feet; and be-
yond these material considerations IL
the fact that the Netherlands, with ita
proud record as q seafaring power.
would deeply resent as a humiliation
the annulment Of It's right to fish free-
ly on the open North Sea, ana thus
carry on one of Its oldest industries.
Neutrality forbids the singing out Of
the Central Powers for a fish export
prohibition, while a general export
prohibition would cut away the main
basis of the industry's existence.
Meetings Of protest have already
been held by various fishing interests
and the trades unions affected; the
lpress has echoed the same note; and
the Foreign Minister has explained
the matter in Parliament. It Is strong
ly argued from the Dutch side that
there can be no question Of contra
band, as the fish is all destined for
the open market in Holland, where
anyone is free to buy On the other
, hand, there is the fact that a COM
| hoe hSy1 E.S.
ing craft owners, dealers and others
which acts as the buying medium for
the big German company that UNDER
takes Germanys purchases Of food
stuffs in this country. under an ar
rangement whereby it may deliver all
the fish it can at fixed price, viz,
$3.50 per cask as against the price OF
so American cents prevailing before
the war.
However, the position may stand
. from the point Of view of equity, 1t is
quite possible that now the Declaration
. of London has been abandoned and
, Great Britain has fallen back on the
, pre- existing principles Of maritime
law, the Prize Court would decide
against the fishermen If the matter
P went too far, and condemn the Dutch
craft on the ground that the ultimate
, destination of three-quarters Of their
cargo catches may be presumed to be
, for the enemy and therefore contra
band. But it seems probable an ar
rangement will be made between the
, British authorities and the Dutch
fishing interests as the result Of ne
gotiations now proceeding. The sug-
, gestion is put forward in one quarter
, that the owners Of fishing craft shall
bind themselves to land the catches OF
a fixed number Of ships in England
and sell them on the public market
, there, on the understanding that the
other part of the feet shall be free
to carry their catches to Dutch ports
OF these latter a portion would be re-
served for home consumption, while
the rest Of the fish would be sold on
the open market, as now. to Germany
or any other purchaser who cared to
: buy. At the same time, the German
government would in its turn have to
bind itself not to interfere with Dutch
fishing craft on their way to British
d ports.