Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1916-09-10

as against only SS.70O in 1914 and
$500 in 1913. Sales 10 other coun-
tries fell off prOportionately. Amer
lea, FOR instance, 1T ordinary times
draws certain amount Of herring
from Holland. but the total Of 14.247
tons dispatched thither in 1913 fell to
1888 tons last wear and now the her
ring export to the United States seems
10 have entirely stopped the total for
the first six months of the current
year being only eight tons.
Such figures make clear what a
hindrance the Dutch fishing industry
has constituted to the allies blockade
of the central powers. and sufficiently
explain their anxiety to bring about
change in this state of affairs, psrtic-
ularly II it be remembered that,
while British fishing trawlers are
being sent to the bottom of the sea
by German submarines, these Dutch
craft are hauling in their loaded nets
for the German markets right under
the noses of British naval guns.
Many Int, rested.
The Question is, however, an eN-
ceedinsly difficult and complicated
one, for sonic 10000 10 $4,000 sea-
men and others earn their livelihood
in the Dutch fishing anC connected
Industries; Hollands own fish supply
is also involved; an indemnity, il is
argued. could not counterbalance the
far-reachins harmful effects OF the
laying up OF the fishing fleet, ana
beyond these material considerations
is the fact that the Netherlands with
It's proud record as a seafaring pow
or. would deeply resent as q humilia-
ton the 8unulmcnt of its right 10 FISH
freely on the open North sea and thus
carry on one of its oldest Industries.
Neutrality torbids the singing out OF
the central powers for a fash export
prohibition. while a general export
prohibition would cat away the man
basis Of the indus,rN's existence.
Meetings of protest have alreaoy
been held by various fishing interests
and tho trades unions affected, ths
press has echoed tho same note. and
the foreign minister has explained
the matter in parliament. II is strong
ly argued from the Dutch side that
:herc can be no question of contra
hand, as the fish is an destined for
the open market IN lloilanu, Whefe
anyone Is free to buy ON the oth"r
hand there is the fact that a conf
pauy has been formed by leading fish
ing craft owners, dealers and others
which acts as the buying medium foH
the big German company that under
takes GermanN's purchases OF fooi-
stuffs In this country, under an ar
rangement whereby Il may deliver all
the fish il can at a fixed price, VIZ,
I.S0 per cask, as against the price
OF 60 American cents preVailing be-
fore the war.
However, the position may stand
from the point OF view of equity, n
is quite possible that now the deciar-
alton Of London has beer abandoned
and Grea. britain has fallen back or
.hc pre-existing PRINCIPLES Of mari
time law. the prize court would decide
asainst the fishermen If the matter
went go far and condemn the Dutch
craft on the ground that the ultimate
destination Of threa-quarters of their
cargo catcher NAV he presumed to be
for the enemy and therefore contra
pand. But IL seems probable an ar
rangement will be MADE between the
British authorities and the Dutca
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
o. fixed number of ships In England
and sell them on the public market
there, on the understanding that the
other part OF the fleet shall he free
10 carry their catches to Dutch ports.
or these latter portion would he
reserved for hcme consumption, while
the rest of the fish would be sold
on the open marke' as now to Ger
many or any other purchaser who
cared to buy. At the same time the
German government would in its turn
nave to bind itself not to interfere
with Dutch fishing craft on their way
TO British ports.