[7] REVIEW OF ANNANIASSEN's VOYAGE TO ICELAND. 321 



consideration the fact that the crews on these Iceland fishiuff-vessels 

 are generally small in number, so that it becomes impossible lor the 

 men to relieve each other as is done on the French vessels. But durino- 

 the boat fisheries the fishermen very seldom have any liquor on board" 

 even if they stay out at sea for a considerable length of time (12 hours 

 or more). This is especially true among the Westland and Southland 

 fishermen. 



4. It is difficult to give a form or type of a boat which is in general 

 use throughout the island. Even in localities which are adjacent the 

 form of the boat varies considerably, according to the local require- 

 ments. Thus the boats used on the south coast, in the Faxe Bay, the 

 Brede Bay, and the western fiords, resemble each other in some respects 

 and differ in others. Each of these localities has some peculiarity as 

 regards the build of the boat. In the Northland and Eastland the 

 forms of the boats vary still more, as the fisheries in these parts have 

 been developed only recently, and as, especially on the east coast, the 

 fisheries are carried on by foreigners or by persons from other parts of 

 Iceland or from the Faroe Islands, all of whom, of course, use the kind 

 of boat to which they have been accustomed from time immemorial. 

 As a general rule, the Iceland fishing-boats are arranged in such a 

 : manner that they can be used both as sailboats- and row-boats as 

 I occasion demands. The form of the boat is also adapted to the part 

 I of the sea where it is to be used, to the landing-place, &c. On the 

 I south coast of Iceland, and in some other places where the fisheries are 

 I carried on in the open sea and where there is rarely more than one 

 landiug-place, the boats are mostly row-boats. In the Faxe Bay the 

 1 boats were formeriy chiefly used as row-boats; but at present they seem 

 ^ to be in a transition stage toward sail-boats, with heavy ballast, be- 

 { cause the boats are somewhat narrow, for which reason they can also 

 I if necessary, be used as row-boats. ' 



I In most places in Iceland it will be necessary to have a boat which is 

 I adapted both to sailing and to rowing, as much as is possible, and which 

 I is suited to the sea and the landing-places where it is to be used. A boat 

 which is arranged either exclusively for sailing or exclusively for row- 

 I ing, even if absolutely perfect in either respect, will not prove so useful 

 to the fishermen as a boat which combines both qualities. Wherever 

 «ails are introduced, care should be taken to adapt them to both stormy 

 and calm weather. In Iceland there are no harbors for boats, and they 

 must in neariy all cases be drawn ashore. On the south coast of Ice- 

 I land only a mainsail is used, as a general rule. In the Faxe Bay a jib 

 j is also used, with two masts with staysails. In the western part of 

 I Iceland only a mainsail was used some years ago ; but recently many 

 1 fishermen have begun to use jibs. It is safe to assume that about two- 

 j thirds of all the Iceland fishing-boats have jibs. Objections made against 

 I the shape and rig of the Iceland vessels should be received with caution; 

 -and the criticism of Mr. A. seems unjustified. 



1 ^* ^'h^M-^*^"68 ^^^'n ''^'^^■^^'^^^ ^^^"^ row-boats are almost (^xclu- 



