ABSTRACT
Fishermen came in their thousands from near and far to share in the richest harvest of the northern seas; workmen in thousands came to salt and pack the catch; merchants came in hundreds to deal in the herrings themselves or to supply the needs of the fishermen and packers. In Germany itself, in Russia, Poland, and all the Baltic States, in Flanders, in France, in Spain and Portugal, Scania herrings found ready buyers and the hanseatic merchant’s reaped large profits. Thus the disposal of the herrings entailed long voyages and use of big sea-going ships; and the proceeds of the herrings were used to procure return cargoes of the characteristic local products. The Hanseatics bought occasional cargoes, but they preferred Luneberg salt, which was cheaper, for the curing of their herrings; whereas England, until her own deposits of rock-salt began to be worked in the seventeenth century, depended largely on "Bay Salt," which was also in good demand in Spain and Portugal.
