Andrzej Gierszewski

The issue of migration of fishermen from the Curonian Lagoon has not been a subject of detailed research. The purpose of this paper is to present mechanisms behind migration of fishermen from the Curonian Spit based on methodology of historical demography.
The source base for this subject is based on tax censuses from the period 1539–1569 A.D., which present the names, surnames or nicknames of fishermen, who inhabited the region of the Curonian Lagoon and sometimes possessed livestock, which was the basis to evaluate the size of the tax by the administration of Duchy of Prussia and the bishop of Samland.
Based on those information a historian can estimate the size of the population living in the Curonian Spit, as well as the size of families of fishermen, provide information about directions of migration of fishermen. Written sources provide also information about the phenomen of rotation (replaceability) of populations inhabiting fishery settlements during the span of one or two generations (30 years), which was not presented in scientific literature.
The results differ significantly from the picture outlined by 19–20th cent. German historians and show, that in the case of demographic research it is extremely important to take into account the specific context, namely pallets of objective and anthropogenic factors.

Did the Grand Duchy of Lithuania have any influence on organization of Teutonic Orders' logistic infrastructure in the area of Commandry of Memel?

The purpose of this paper is to present the logistic infrastructure of Teutonic Commandry of Memel and the multiple options GDoL had used to influence (mostly force) Teutonic Orders' administration to use certain logistic channels. The whole process of influence is a sophisticated one and depended mostly on diplomatic relations, for example sending of Lithuanian/Zematijan troops to the shore of the Baltic Sea near Polanga caused TO to use boats or to send diplomatic correspondence to Livonia through unmarked roads in the forest. At times of peace GDoL also could boost trade, mostly in the area adjacent to Curonian Lagoon, but also to Sambia via Curonian Spit.

"Medieval Fishery on Curonian Lagoon has never been a particular research subject, neither German, neither Lithuanian researchers.
The paper focuses on organization of medieval fishing, mainly on fishing zones, which were:
- either bound to commandries and local supervisor offices, which were to aimed at supervision of fishery and realisation of own fishery goals as well as to collect taxes,
- either granted to townsfolk or local nobility, who were granted to fish freely in a limited zone.

Apart from aforementioned subjects a organisation of fishery companies is observed, which were to deliver fish to local offices for a certain fee paid according to prepared amounts of finished product. This however will be a part of upcoming PhD thesis.""

There has been discussion amongst scholars regarding to the name of the Curonian Spit and Curonian Lagoon in medieval times since late XIXth century. This article focuses on the factors indicating the origins of the name. Conclusion is that Curonian Spit is named purely for geographical reasons.

As for the breakthroughs in the spit there was also a ongoing discussion about their amount and localization. The certain breakthrouhs have been indictaded, but they were constantly repaired by the Tuetonic Order due to travel difficulties in the region.