Smokehouses in Holland Become Artistic Studios

Manawatu Times, Volume LV, Issue 7409, 17 December 1930, Page 10

Smokehouses in Holland Become Artistic Studios

AMSTERDAM. As the big 20-mile dam which, is to enclose the Zuydcr Zoo by 1032 nears completion, the fishing people of the small picturesque fishing villages round the Zuydcr Zee are changing their occupations and seeking now channels for useful activity. lii the little village of liuizen, iu tho neighbourhood of Amsterdam, there were iu 1918, for instance, 04 fishing boats, compared with 54 in 1924 and about 30 in 1030. This village was also well known for its smokehouses for herrings. But the Yssel Lake, with an urea of water of 270,000 acres, into which the Zuydcr Zee is to bo transformed, will no longer contain herrings and other sea fish. Therefore, the smokehouses at liuizen are being adapted to new uses, and the young fishermen of liuizen arc being taught there tho ancient art of making beautiful pottery. This new occupation and many other fresh activities which tho former Zuyder Zee fisher folk are taking up were shown at a recent exhibition at Enkliuizen, which showed a iast glimpse of beautiful Holland around the Zuydcr Zee. It. is realised that the completion of the dam in 1932 will involve important sociological changes. The typical character of the ancient fishing villages in and around the Zuydcr Zee will give place to something different. Tho Zuydcr Zee will then havo passed into history. And most probably also the characteristic habits, customs, and costumes of the different Zuydcr Zee village-. 'The Zuydcr Zee Exhibition also served to show to all the simple fisher people tho many other ways in which they will be able to cam a good living, as their present, occupation dwindles with the disappearance of the sea. It showed them that they might lake up fresh water fishing in the Yssel Lake, as new varieties of lish, fresh water fish from Denmark and Estonia are being imported to be cultivated in the Yssel Lake. Furthermore, they could go over to the North Fen fishing. The Dutch North herring fishery provides work for 4300 sailors, and more hands are needed. So Zuydcr Zee fishers are welcome, and their women folk may find work as net-menders. In a great many other ways new lines of work are being offered to tho Zuydcr Zee fisher.-. And last, but not least, they may find employment in the agricultural enterprises, when in (lie future the 350,000 acres of new fertile .soil comes- into cultivation.