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Fisheries
(3,152 words)

1. Global trade

Before the advent of refrigerators, fresh foods were subject to rapid spoilage, which put narrow constraints on trade. As a result, highly perishable items such as fish had to be rendered shelf stable for trade through mass production by means of fermentation, drying,  smoking, and pickling (with smoke, salt, or acid) (Foodstuffs, conservation of). Herring and cod became internationally traded commodities and fed the populations of Europe (Food).

1.1. Herring fishing and preserving

In the Mid…

Cite this page
Lesger, Clé, Pelzer-Reith, Birgit and Ostrawsky, Karin, “Fisheries”, in: Encyclopedia of Early Modern History Online, Editors of the English edition: Graeme Dunphy, Andrew Gow. Original German Edition: Enzyklopädie der Neuzeit. Im Auftrag des Kulturwissenschaftlichen Instituts (Essen) und in Verbindung mit den Fachherausgebern herausgegeben von Friedrich Jaeger. Copyright © J.B. Metzlersche Verlagsbuchhandlung und Carl Ernst Poeschel Verlag GmbH 2005–2012. Consulted online on 19 March 2024 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/2352-0272_emho_COM_019272>
First published online: 2015
First print edition: 20180126



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