Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1916-10-09
BRITAIN MAKES
FISH AGREEMENT;
DUTCH REJOICE
England WithdrawS Her EdiCt
That Holland Herring Boats
Must Cease Fishing in the
North Sea.


SCheveningen, Netherlands, Sept.
2S,-Flags are flying from fishcrmen's
homes all along the Dutch coast in
celebration Of the agreement arrived
at with Great Britain on the herring
fishery question.
When EnEland's blockadmg war
ships some months ago began TO take
the squat Dutch smacks and luggers
into British ports, on the ground that
80 per cent Of their catches was pre-
sumably destined for Germany, popu-
lar resentment in Holland rose to a
high pitch Fishing in the North sea
for a time practically came to a stand
stil
The relief felt at the solution Of the
difficulty is great The hundred or
so detained craft have already been
released by the British authorities,
ana the entire Dutch fishing fleet Of
over 1000 vessels is to be entirely free
to again carry on its operations in the
North sea-always with the exception
Of the forbidden zone
Allows Germany Onc-fifth.
Britain's condition. stipulated with
the Dutch fishing interests the Meth
erlands government had nothing to do
September until the end of the war
the catches shall be placed on the
open market as heretofore but that
not more than 20 per cent thereof
shall Doe sold to Germany. Home con-
sumption will take another 20 per
cent, while England reserves the OPP
ton to purchase a further 20 per cent
at prices ruling for Dutch buyers. The
remaining 40 per cent may be disposed
of to any and all countries not at war
with Great Britain, ana the British
authorities bind themselves to pay the
substantial subsidy of 80 shillings per
barrel of l15 Kilograms thus sold, to
compensate for the higher prices that
might have been obtained from Ger
many rescrvng the right to do this
i'm treasury notes of a years term
Further, the owners whose ships were
taken In arc compensated for any
damage incurred to nets and boats
during such operation, while permits
sion Is again given to draw from Eng
land all the nets and other fishing
gear required.
enc of the indirect results of this
settlement is that the Dutch hope to
recapture the American market for
Dutch sailed herring-which had been
lost to them owing to the fancy prices
which German bidding had created
Before the war the United States was,
next to Germany the best customer,
taking 1A517 tons of herring I'm 1918.
In 1915 American herring Imports
from Holland had dropped to 1888
tons. and during the first seven
months of 1916 only eight tons of
Dutch herring found their way across
the Atlantic.
German buying competition win
now be excluded so far as so per cent
of the catches is concerned, and IL is
hoped that the British subsidy, which
is something like the entire value Of
the product in normal times, Will en-
able dealers To find a big overseas
market at moderate prices despite the
high freight rates. II should be add
ed, however. that outward freights
have not risen in anything like the
same proportion as those to Europe.
In fact almost half of the ships sail
ing from Dutch ports to transatlantic
destinations are in ballast.
Leading fishery interests in this
country estimate that from now until
the end of the herring fishing season
some 10000 tons of sailed herring Will
he shipped to America under this ar
rangement This is figured on "A basis
of so to 80 per cent of an estimated
total catch of half a million barrels.
As regards the fresh sea fish branch
of the fisheries, a separate agreement
has been concluded. by which 80 per
cent OF the catches is TO be reserved
for home consumption and Of the re-
naming 90 per cent half will go TO
Britain and half TO Germany. The
British dealers will buy i'm the open
market in competition with the GER
man, but certain maximum prices
have been fixed in the case of this
fresh fish. any margin above which |
viii be made good TO them by the
fishing craft owners.