ICELAND — EINARSSON 289 



In Iceland there are no dialects, thanks to the national literature 

 the Icelanders created long before any such thing was known in 

 other parts of northern Europe. 



Early in the twelfth century the Icelanders began to write their 

 laws and the history of their country on parchment, which was 

 followed by the writing of the famous Icelandic "Sagas." 



POLITICAL RELATIONS 



In the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries, through changes in 

 political relations, Iceland became united first with Norway and later 

 with Denmark. 



The loss of political freedom, epidemics, and widespread poverty 

 and hardships for many years caused the population to diminish to 

 about one-third of what it was at the time of the republic. But 

 during the last few decades the Icelandic people seem to have taken 

 on new life. In 1918, after a long and strenuous political struggle, 

 Iceland became an independent and sovereign state in personal union 

 with Denmark through a common king. Since the restoration of 

 the power of administration, a steady and far-reaching change has 

 taken place in the mode of living and general conditions in the 

 country. 



FISHING, AGRICULTURE, INDUSTRY, TRADE 



The Icelandic nation is one of the smallest nations in the world 

 (population about 120,000), but its influence in the world trade is 

 felt far beyond what one might expect. 



The greatest factor in Iceland's economic life is the fisheries. The 

 sea around the country is enormously rich in fish. There are two 

 currents striking the coast of Iceland. A branch of the Gulf Stream 

 encompasses the larger part of the coast so that the country is almost 

 surrounded by warm water. This is the reason the climate on this 

 Arctic island is much milder than one would expect when its geo- 

 graphical position is taken into consideration. The other current, 

 polar in character, comes from the north and strikes the north and 

 east coasts of the country. 



On account of these two currents with their different types of 

 marine plant and animal life, the sea around Iceland is rich in the 

 growth which is the basis of life for various kinds of fish such as 

 cod, saithe, haddock, halibut, herring, and many others. Seals are 

 numerous and millions of sea birds breed and make their homes on 

 the seashore, on the rocks, and on the many small isles around the 

 coast. The most important of these sea birds is the eider duck, from 

 the nests of which the eider down is gathered. 



