Cooperage

Cooperage (from Dutch koopen, to buy), a system of barter carried on upon the high seas, principally by Dutch and Belgian vessels, which patrolled the North Sea and provided the North Sea fishers with goods, especially spirits and tobacco, in return for money, gear, or fish. So much evil in the shape of drunkenness, waste of stores, and disposal of fish resulted from this practice, that a determined set was made against it by deep-sea missionaries and smack owners, and they have endeavoured to enlist the efforts of the Governments concerned towards discouraging this practice and establishing a properly-regulated trade where necessary.