COOPERAGE, or COPERAGE (Flemish and Dutch kooper, a trader, dealer)  , a system of traffic in spirituous liquors, tobacco and other articles amongst the fishermen in the North Sea . The practice began in the middle of the 19th century, when Flemish and Dutch koopers frequented the fishing fleets for the purpose of barter . Trading first in tobacco, they extended their operations, and soon became practically floating grog-shops . The demoralizing nature of the traffic was brought to the public notice in 1881, and a convention was held at the Hague in 1882 to consider means of remedying the abuses . In 1887 Great l3ritain, Germany, Belgium, Denmark, France and the Nether-lands signed an agreement to prevent the sale or purchase of spirituous liquors among fishermen at sea . In Great Britain an act (the North Sea Fisheries Act 1888) was passed to carry into effect the terms of the convention . The act (now repealed and replaced by the North Sea Fisheries Act 1893, with which it is identical but for some slight verbal modifications) imposes a fine not exceeding £50 or a term of imprisonment not exceeding three months for supplying, exchanging or otherwise selling spirits . It imposes a like penalty for purchasing spirits by exchange or otherwise, and requires every British vessel dealing in provisions or other articles to have a licence and to carry a special mark . In 1882 Mr E . J . Mather started a mission to deep sea fishermen, which sends out mission ships and supplies the fishermen with good clothing, literature, tobacco, &c., at a fair price . This mission, now the Royal National Mission to Deep Sea Fishermen, is registered by the Board of Trade .

See E . J . Mather, Nor'ard of the Dogger (1888), and publications of the Mission to Deep Sea Fishermen .