Full resolution (JPEG) - On this page / på denna sida - Norway - Pages ...
<< prev. page << föreg. sida << >> nästa sida >> next page >>
Below is the raw OCR text
from the above scanned image.
Do you see an error? Proofread the page now!
Här nedan syns maskintolkade texten från faksimilbilden ovan.
Ser du något fel? Korrekturläs sidan nu!
This page has never been proofread. / Denna sida har aldrig korrekturlästs.
bacatlao seco (comp. p. 173). Fish simply salted without other
preparation are called Laberdan. The heads were formerly thrown
away, hut are now dried by fire and pulverised, and thus converted
into ‘fish-guano’. On some of the outlying islands the cod-heads are
boiled with sea-weed (Tarre) and used as fodder (Løpning) for the
cattle. During the three fishing months no fewer than 30,000
fishermen are employed on the Lofoden coasts. The boats, to the number
of 8000 or more, flock to the three principal fishing-banks, within a
mile of the islands, where the water varies in depth from 30 to
120 fathoms. The shoals (Torskbjerg) of cod, probably on their
way from the great banks farther N., extending along the coast
and thence to Spitzbergen, are here so dense that hand-line
fishers, with artificial minnow (Pilk) and sinker (Jernsten, Søkkjet,
Sykket), hook their prey as fast as they can lower their lines. Each
boat’s crew is called a Lag, over which the Høvedsmand or captain
presides. The annual yield averages 20 million fish, many of
which are of great size, and the number has even reached 37
millions (1886). An average catch (Fisket) of 5-6000 cod per boat is
considered a fairly good haul. The chief stations are Henningsvar
(p. 247), where a naval officeT is posted to preserve order, Vaagen, and
Svolvær (the island of Skroven). The motley multitude, assembled
from the N. and W. parts of Norway, presents a most interesting
and novel sight. Most of the fishermen sleep in temporary huts
(Rorboder) erected for their accommodation. In the middle is the
fire-place (Komfur), where they cook their Supamølja (a kind of
soup) and Okjysta. The whole proceedings are usually very orderly
and peaceable, especially as no opportunity is afforded for the
purchase of spirits. Many of the fishermen realise very handsome
profits, and as they are paid in cash, the coffers of the Norwegian
banks are often well-nigh drained for the purpose. A clergyman
(Stiftskapellan) is stationed here during the period of the fishery
for the purpose of performing additional services in different parts
of the islands. — At the close of the winter fishery (Gaatfisket)
most of the fishermen proceed towards the N. to Finmarken to
prosecute the Vaarfiske (‘summer fishery’) or Loddefiske.
The winter fishery is unfortunately often attended with great
loss of life. Thus when a westerly gale unexpectedly springs up,
rendering it impossible to return to the islands, the open boats
are driven across the broad and stormy expanse of the Vestfjord
for a distance of 10-12 sea-miles, often capsizing before they reach
the mainland. On these occasions the ‘Tolleknive’ of the ill-fated
crew are sometimes found sticking on the outside of their craft,
where they have been used by tlieir owners for the purpose of
enabling them to hold on. Some of the boats are, indeed, provided
with handles (Stropper) for this purpose. On llth Feb., 1848,
500 fishermen perished in a catastrophe of this kind.
The total length of the Lofoden and Vesteraalen Islands is
<< prev. page << föreg. sida << >> nästa sida >> next page >>
