Music Of The Waters - online book
Sailors' Chanties, Songs Of The Sea, Boatmen's, Fishermen's,
Rowing Songs,
& Water Legends with lyrics & sheet music
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Music of the Waters. 245 |
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In a book entitled " The Dutch at Home," by Monsieur Alphonse Esquiros, published by Chapman and Hall, Piccadilly, which describes most graphically the life and character of the fishermen and sea-people generally of Holland, there is an account of the fishermen of Vlaar-dingen. The author says that "up to recent years the departure of the boats for the great herring fishery was fixed for St. John's Day (June 24th). This departure was preceded by fetes, and a book of old Dutch songs still exists, sung by the fishermen as they put to sea. Toasts were proposed to the success of a fishery, and prayers offered up. At last sail was set, and the peaceful flotilla started for the herring conquest. At the present day the doggers start at the -beginning of June, and can open the fishery at once ; but faithful to tradition, or, if you will so, prejudice, the fishermen take advantage of this new liberty very reluctantly. The " herring," they say in their simple language, "does not like to be caught before St. John's Day." I have unsuccessfully attempted to find this old book of songs. Monsieur Esquiros has been dead some years, and his book (published in 1863) seems |
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