The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1916-09-05
BRITAIN TRYING TO
KEEP FISH FROM
GERMAN TABLES
One Hundred Dutch Vessels
Have Been Seized and Are
in Ports Awaiting End
of the War

The Hague. Netherlands, August Is.
Correspondence of the Associated Press.)
Great Britain, which has been regarding
with growing displeasure the provisioning
of Germany with fish from Holland, has
now brought the matter to a head by
seizure of some 100 vessels of the Dutch
fishing fleet and they are now lying an
der arrest in the Scotch ports of Peter
head, Aberdeen, Lerwick and Kirkwall.
Unless an arrangement is reached, they
are apparently to be taken before the
British prize court on the ground that
their catches are contraband because the
final destination thereof is Germany.
Even before the war Germany was the
best customer of the Dutch fishermen
but the effect of the wartime blockade
of the allies had been to SO greatly in
crease that country's purchases on the
fish market here as to give it practical
monopoly of Hollands exports. The net
export of various sorts or sea nsh IN
recent years has amounted to about llO,OOo
tons year. representing value Of be-
tween 100000 and ST., 100000. Partly as
result of less competition on the fish
ing grounds of the North and con-
sequent bigger catches, and doubtless
partly owing to the highly remuneratve
prices obtainable, there was an enormous
increase in the exports last year, $4,000
tons of fresh sea fish and sailed and
smoked herring alone being sent out OF
the country. Germany's share Of the ex-
ports of fresh sea fish and salted herring
was no less than 144900 tons. as against
only SO, 700 in 1914 and $500 in 1913. Sales
to other countries fell off proportionately.
America for instance, at ordinary times,
draws a certain amount of herring from
Holland, but the total of 14,247 tons dis
patched 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 hind
drance 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, particularly if it
be remembered that, while British fishing
trawlers are being sent to the bottom or
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.
The question is, however an exceeding
ly difficult and complicated one, for some
20 900 to 5000 seamen and others earn
their livelihood in the Dutch fishing and
connected industries; Hollands own fish
supply is also involved; an indemnity, 1T
is argued, could not counterbalance the
far-reaching harmful effects of the lay
ing up of the fishing fleet; and beyond
these material considerations is the fact
that The Netherlands. with its proud rec
ord as sea-faring power, would deeply
resent as a humiliation the annulment
of it's right to fish freely on the open
North sea, and 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 press has
echoed the same note; and the foreign
minister has explained the matter in Par
lament. 1t is strongly argued from the
Dutch side that there can be no question
of contraband, 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 company
has been formed by leading fishing craft
owners, dealers and others which acts as
the buying medium for the big German
company that undertakes Germanys pur-
chases Of foodstuffs in this country, I'M
der an arrangement whereby IL may de-
liver all the fish it can at fixed price,
viz, $3.50 per cask as against the price
of 60 American cents prevailing before
the war.
However, the position may stand from
the point of view of equity, it is quite
possible that, now the declaration of Lon
don has been abandoned and Great Brit
ain has fallen back on the pre-existing
principles of maritime law, the prize
court would decide against the fisher
men If the matter went so far, and con-
denim 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 there
fore contraband. But it seems proba BILE
an arrangement will be made between the
British authorities and the Dutch fishing
interests as the result of negotiations
now proceeding. The suggestion Is put
forward in one quarter that the owners of
fishing craft shall bind themselves to land
the catches of 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 be free
to carry their catches to Dutch ports Of
these latter portion would be reserved
for home consumption, while the rest Of
the fish would be sold on the open mar
ket, as now. to Germany or any other
purchaser who cared to buy. At the same
time. the German government would in