THE HERRING: ITS EFFECT ON THE HISTORY OF BRITAIN.

1918 1st edition. Pp200. B/w double-page lithographs from old engravings, recipes, bibliography. Decorative gilt green cloth.

"This is not a natural history book, or a treatise on the herring trade. It tells the story of an ancient industry over a period of a thousand years. In the early Middle Ages the herring created the wealth of the Hansa league, and, later, of the Dutch; it was for centuries the pivot of trade in Northern Europe. Out of the Dutch herring fishing fleet grew their mercantile marine, to be superseded by ours in and after Cromwell's days. ...The book deals with the 17th century disputes around the herring fishery and the Dominion of the Seas, and endeavours to throw light on what Germany means by the phrase 'The Freedom of the Seas'. It contains a number of curious and forgotten recipes for cooking the herring". Many excellent (mainly 18th century Dutch) engravings of different aspects of the herring industry and fishing boats whilst the recipes are taken from 'Essay Towards a Natural History of the Herring,' James Solas Dodd, 1752.