o26 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [4] 



through the lava it has been filtered, and there is scarcely any mud, at 

 any rate not in the winter. 



The Laxa evidently has all the most favorable conditions for a good 

 spawning place for salmon, and near its mouth are some falls, which do 

 not in the least hinder the ascent of the salmon, but where they like 

 to sport about. The salmon likes foaming waterfalls which seem to 

 have a special attraction for it; this has at least been observed in many 

 salmon waters. The stream of lava in ancient times formed a sort of 

 dam across the river, and over this dam the water rushes with consid- 

 erable force, forming the Laxamyri Falls. On July 23 I examined this 

 place, accom])anied bj^ the thrifty owner, Sigurdjon Johanuesson. The 

 falls have live distinct divisions. The eastern part consists of two falls, 

 separated by a large island. The salmon do not ascend the eastern 

 branch, but are found in great number in the western branch. The as- 

 cent is easiest in the fourth fall, which consists of five or six natural steps. 

 Near the toj^ of this fall, in the western part, and extending as far as 

 the middle of the stream, there is an apparatus for catching salmon. 

 It consists of fences with perpendicular boards, whose land-arm is sup- 

 ported by five boxes formed of beams and filled with stones, while the 

 outer or free arm has only three such supports. The two lower boxes 

 are close by the side of each other, and to them the salmon-box 

 is attached. This box is constructed of boards and has a triangular 

 shape, and is furnished "with an opening through which the salmon leap 

 Into the box. The asceut of the salmon is governed by the wind ; if 

 the wind is north the salmon go to the eastern, and when it is south 

 to the western branch of the stream. The salmon therefore keep under 

 the wind. 



^Jome salmon are caught by means of sharp iron hooks attached to 

 poles; these hooks are struck into the fish while it is ascending, the 

 fisherman passing the hook through the water at random until he 

 strikes a fish. By this method of fishing many salmon are severely 

 wounded, and even if they are caught they lose their value somewhat 

 as a marketable article. Occasionally salmon are caught also with nets 

 in the deep holes below the falls after the fishermen have spied them 

 from the rocks. 



During the last few years the ascent of the salmon has begun late in 

 the season, about June 14, and come to an end in the middle of Au- 

 gust. Formerly the salmon began to ascend about May 25. If the 

 salmon ascend early in the season, the fisheries close early. The as- 

 ceut is easiest for the salmon during high water; that is, at the times 

 of the new moon and the full moon. The difference of depth between 

 the tides is 2 or 3 feet. 



The annual income from the Laxamyri salmon-fisheries varies be- 

 tween 2,000 and 10,000 crowns [|536 and $2,680j. The fisheries vary a 

 great deal in different years; thus, when I visited Laxamyri only about 



