Anon., [1865]. De
zee en haar rijkdom. De uitvinding van het kompas en het tegenwoordige
standpunt der zeevaarteundige instrumenten , vuur- en licht-torens , de
duikerklok en duikerboot , de weten-schap in dienst van den mensch bij zijnen
strijd met de elementen, vischvangst, jagten op zee, visscherij, zeewezen,
scheepvaart en wereldhandel. Leiden, A.W. Sijthoff, pp. 296.
Who wrote this curious book, written in Dutch, dealing with many different aspects of the sea? It provides a
truly wide spectrum of sea related issues, clearly written by a person (or
persons) who had detailed knowledge. The book is highlighted with many
woodcuts. Although issued anonymous and with no date, the Koninklijke
Bibliotheek dates it at 1865. With this date it is one of the earliest works originally
written in Dutch on the topic of oceanography. Of course, Marsilli’s Natuurkundige beschrijving der zeen
(1786) was the first (a translation of the 1725 original in French). The two volumes
of Zimmermann’s De zee, hare bewoners en
wonderen (1838-1839) were translated from German and Maury’s Natuurkundige beschrijving der zeeën
(1855) was translated (and partly edited) by Marin Henri Jansen (1817-1893)
from the English original. As the sub-title suggests, there are many chapters, e.g. on
maritime instruments (compass, steering wheel, log, octant, barometer, even the
thermometer to detect different water masses or nearby icebergs), and
lighthouses. The ‘bateau poisson’ of Brutus (de) Villeroi (1794–1874), the fish-shaped vessel, built in 1832, and in 1837 demonstrated in Paris to Netherlands’ representatives (including Antoine Lipkens (1782-1847) and Ltz. Olke Arnoldus Uhlenbeck (1810-1888), receives much attention with a folding plate.  ‘Bateau poisson’ of Brutus (de) Villeroi (1794–1874), interior.  Also fisheries are rather detailed with
information on history, methods and catches for herring, cod (stock fish), salmon,
tuna, and sturgeon. Culturing of oysters and mussels, the latter on
artificial substrates like branches and poles, is presented in the book, as is
fishing for pearls, coral, sponges and amber. Hunting for sharks, seals, walrus
and whales, but also for seabirds (edible bird’s nests) was a common practice.
Already in the 1860s there was an interest in fish culture (according to the
text ‘invented’ by the German Graf von Holstein in 1763). Induced spawning of
e.g. trout or salmon is practiced, and provides amusing reading;
dedicated installations were erected to facilitate this culture (see more pictures in 'ad HOC #15'.
The second half of the book relates to shipping (history,
shipbuilding, sailing ships and (paddle) steamers, the use of ships screws,
crews), harbours and world trade by sea. For those interested to learn more about this work: You can view this book via Delpher of the Koninklijke Bibliotheek (National Library of the Netherlands). References 2) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brutus_de_Villeroi 3) https://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antoine_Lipkens 5) Anon., 1954. 1854 Koninklijk Nederlands Meteorologisch Instituut 1954, Staatdrukkerij, den Haag, pp. 470 Kees Kramer
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