THE “HARINGJAGER” AND THE “BUISCONVOYER”.

The “howker” was used not only as a fishing boat but also as a Haringjager (herring hunter), a boat which is sent to get the first catch of the fleet.

The “howker” was also used as a Buisconvoyer (convoy for bushes); it was then armed with several guns and intended to defend the “bushes” against the enemy. Various circumstances contributed to the complete disappearance of the “bushes” and the “howkers”; these are the more and more severe demands laid on this traffic, the combination of herring fishing with that for cod and haddock on one and the same boat, the use of cotton nets which are much lighter than the old ones so that casting the nets is less important on the boat itself. All these causes brought about the creation of boats with fine lines, so that there existed, in 1886, but one howker for 8 sloops and 181 luggers. The sloop and the lugger, which followed it came to us from France.