324 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [2J 



iiames for tbe mountain-trout, and sjohirting is the name of the trout 

 -which goes into fresh Avaters from the sea. There are a number of other 

 local names used for these fish. 



On July 20 I visited the Falls of thi^ Goda and several points along 

 the Skjalfanda River. A salmon-ladder might easily be constructed on 

 the western side of the little fall, near the grotto, and possibly oue "light 

 be constructed also near the great fall. The little fall is about 18 or 20 

 feet high, and the great fall about 42 feet. I took these measurements 

 ^ith a sounding-line, and as near the main current as possible. 



The Skialfauda Eiver does not contain much animal lite, and probably 

 there is none at all in that portion which is near the falls Nor was there 

 any trace of vegetation. Above the Goda Falls the river has several 

 tributaries containing trout and mountain-trout, which also go into the 

 Skialfauda. In its lower course there are said to be some salmon and 

 trout ; but there is no prospect that the fisheries in this river will ever 

 be of auy importance, and its whole character shows that it has never 



^"^The 'Reykiadaisa River, with its tributaries, which flows into the-Laxa 

 River, and through the Vestmannsvatn and some other lakes, has an 

 entirely diflerent character. The nature of this valley and its animal 

 and vegetable life show different and much more favorable conditions 

 for the life offish than the Skjalfanda and the valley through which it 

 flows In the Reykia valley the salmon are said to ascend very high, 

 and there are manv trout and mountain-trout. The salmon fisheries, 

 however, have declined greatly. The spawning season of the salmon 

 is supposed to be in October. 



Making Mula m v headquarters I made several excursions m the Laxa 

 vallev on July 21 and 22. Near Bruarfos there are falls, none of them, 

 however, would hinder the ascent of salmon if the narrow passage on 

 the west side of the largest island was widened somewhat, which could 

 easily be done by blasting on both sides of the nnrrow passage. It is 

 true that the falls are very long, but as there are resting-places here and 

 there it may well be compared with a large natural f^^^^^f ^' ^"f ^^^ 

 iish could doubtless easily ascend it, provided that above the falls they 

 could find natural conditions favorable to propagation and to the exist- 

 ence of young fry. I have not been able to obtain much information 

 as to whether salmon have ever been caught above the falls, but it was 

 thought that no suitable spawning places were there. In l"«;-e«P^^^ 

 1 examined its course near Tvera, and also in the neighborhood of the 

 Myvatn Lake, and several places would, in my opinion, be suitable for 

 the spawning of salmon. But I must add that the conditions may be 

 very difterent during the spawning season from what they were in July 

 when I visited these places ; possibly the water of the Lax4 is m many 

 places too warm, owing to its tributaries coming from the warm springs 

 in the valley, and also on account of the numerous trout and mountain- 

 trout which devour many salmon eggs. 



