NORWEGIAN LOBSTER-FiSHERY AND ITS HISTORY. 233 



Dutch began to visit Norway as early as the seventeenth century, but it 

 seems that lobsters were not exported in any considerable quantity till the 

 middle of the century, especially from Flaikkefiord and from Karino. 

 The citizens of Zierikzee in Holland commenced this trade, and for a 

 long time carried it on exclusively. We read that lobsters were ex- 

 ported from Fisekkefiord in 1060. In 1674, that port was visited by ten 

 lobster-ships, and, in 1676, Hittero near Flcekkefiord, and Egvaag near 

 Farsuud, became the chief stations in the districts of Lister aud Mandal. 

 From 1690 thenceforward the Zierikzee boats visited Karmo regularly, 

 Skutesuoes and Buken being the first lobster-ports in that district. The 

 Dutch were so eager to further these fisheries that they gave presents 

 to the clergymen, consisting of cheese and cakes, and thereby induced 

 them to exhort the peasants in front of the church to catch and sell 

 lobsters. This succeeded so well near Lister that I find that a man on 

 July 7, 1699, had his ground solemnly consecrated so as to prevent 

 other people from catching lobsters there. The clergymen at Karmo 

 received presents till 1730, when the Dutch found that it had become an 

 unnecessary expense, the lobster-fisheries being by that time in a very 

 flourishing condition. Till 1713, however, these fisheries were not carried 

 on to any very great extent, as wars hindered the fishermen from follow- 

 ing their occupation aud made the export uncertain. People therefore 

 contented themselves with catching lobsters with tongs ; but, after the 

 peace of Utrecht in 1713, the export of lobsters was better regulated, aud 

 several ports were visited both in the Stavanger and in the South Ber- 

 gen districts. Then people began to make baskets, which the Dutch were 

 very anxious to introduce, as many of the lobsters caught with tongs 

 died. The Dutch, therefore, gave to those fishermen who used baskets 

 clay pipes, and twine to tie the claws of the lobster. By agreement, 

 common customs and regulations for loading the ships had been adopted, 

 so that the shipper who first came into port should be allowed to take his 

 full load before any of the others could buy any. The price had also 

 been fixed by the Dutch at about one cent for each lobster, ("full man,") 

 and about fifteen cents for every one hundred lobsters brought along- 

 side of the ship. In order to avoid competition among the buyers, every 

 port had a certain district assigned to it from which it was sup- 

 plied with lobsters, and every captain had a certain port to which his 

 ship must go. As loug as this trade was carried on exclusively by the 

 citizens of Zierikzee, this agreement was kept up, and both buyers 

 and sellers were contented. The following places were then gradually 

 designated as lobster-ports: Mandal, Flsekkefiord, Egersund, Tananger, 

 or perhaps Stavanger, Akre on the island of Karmo, and Leervig on the 

 island of Stordo. Outside of Lister, Stavanger, aud the southern part of 

 the Bergen district, it was not allowed to catch or sell lobsters on account 

 of the strange belief prevalent among the fishermen that lobster-fishing 

 would ruin the other fisheries. This can be seen from Governor Povel 

 Juel's memorial of 1717, which is fouud in the royal archives, where we 



