[3] THE ICELAND FISHERIES. 79 
fact that only open boats and very imperfect apparatus is employed, I 
shall quote a portion of the report on fisheries in the district of Myra and 
Bargarfiorda, made by the governor of said district, and then compare 
this report with the result of my expedition, taking into consideration 
the circumstances that this expedition was my first attempt in this diree- 
tion, and would therefore not, in all probability, be accompanied by as 
favorable results as might be looked for from a second attempt. 
The governor says in his report: 
“The only place in this district where the fisheries may be said to 
form the principal source of income of the inhabitants is Akranes the 
outer point of which, the Akraneslage, stretches far out into the Lase 
Bay. The following remarks will, therefore, apply exclusively to that 
locality. 
“Asa general rule the fishing season at Akranes commences about 
March 1, and is divided into three periods, according to the seasons of 
the year, the first period comprising the winter fisheries, March 1-May 
12, the second the spring fisheries, May 12-June 24, and the third the 
autumn fisheries, November 1-December 23. This division of the fish- 
eries entirely agrees with that of the neighboring districts of Ajésar and 
Gullbruiga; it has probably been known for many years, and is also 
given in the Iceland Almanac. 
“From the information which I have been able to gather, the following 
vessels were last winter engaged in the Akranes winter fisheries: 5 boats 
with 8 oars (7 to 9 men); 22 boats with 6 oars (5 to 7 men); 10 boats 
with 4 oars (4 to5 men). After the 21st of April, 50 boats, with 2 to 
3 men each. 
“It may safely be assumed that the Akranes winter fisheries have, on 
the whole, employed about 350 men, and the spring fisheries 400 men. 
About half this number belonged to Akranes, whilst the other half 
came from the neighboring inland districts, as the farmers are in the 
habit of sending some of their farm hands to the coast during winter 
and spring. With the beginning of the spring fisheries (May 12) the 
use of the large boats with 8 oars ceases, whilst the other boats, with 
4 to six oars, continue to be used, and the number of small boats (with 
2 to 3 men each) is somewhat increased. All the boats, both large and 
small, belong to Akranes. Larger vessels have not been used, the fish- 
eries being carried on entirely with the above-mentioned open boats, 
which have neither name nor number. 
“The number of fish of all kinds caught by the Akranes fishermen 
during last winter’s and spring’s fishing season amounted to 250,000, 
valued at about 50,000 crowns ($13,400). 
«very time the boats come on shore, the fish are immediately divided 
among the crews of the different boats in the following manner: in 
boats with 8, 6, or 4 oars the owner receives two shares to every share 
given to each of the crew, whilst in the small boats the owner’s share 
is equal to that received by each one of the crew. At Akranes it is the 
