89 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [4] 
rule that each person prepares the fish which fall to his share. This 
preparation generally consists in cleaning and salting the fish and bring- 
ing them to market as “Klip-Fisk.” The smaller portion of the fish caught 
are prepared as “ flat fish” and are sold for home consumption. Of all 
the fish caught at Akranes two-thirds are sold to Akranes merchants 
and one-third to Reykjavik merchants. 
‘In two other places in this district (Alptanes and Hraunhreppar) fish- 
eries are carried on in spring, but not to any great extent, as they 
only form a leisure occupation of the inhabitants, who are principally 
engaged in sheep-raising and in agricultural pursuits; and I have con- 
sequently not deemed these fisheries important enough to make a re- 
port on them. 
“T must, in conclusion, express my conviction, which is shared by all 
persons acquainted with the condition of our country, that the manner 
in which the Iceland fisheries have beep carried on for a long time 
(and are still carried on) needs a radical reform, and that, therefore, it 
would be desirable to take the necessary steps for bringing about this 
much needed change as soon as possible.” 
As regards my own expedition I have to report as follows: After 
having fitted out my vessel, I left Copenhagen on the 8th April without 
a cargo; the crew (including myself) numbered six persons. Reached 
the Ferd Islands April 14, and remained there till April 21; hired ten 
Fer6 fishermen. The reason why I staid so long at the Ferd Islands 
was, that the fishermen of these islands, who only use English cutters 
in their bank fisheries, did not have much confidence in the sea-going 
capacity of my vessel, at least as far as its use for the fisheries was con- 
-cerned. Instead of engaging these fishermen on the share plan, which 
is by far the best, as it makes them take some interest in their work, 
and as it does not necessitate the constant and wearisome superintend- 
ence of the owner, I was obliged to have them on the following condi- 
tions : 
During the hand-line fisheries: 15 crowns ($4.02) per month; 6 crowns 
($1.60) per 100 standard cod (upwards of 2 feet in length); 14 crowns 
($0.40) per 100 cod below the standard length (16 to 22 inches). 
During the long-line fisheries: One-third of the total yield, divided 
among the whole crew. 
In both cases the fishermen are found. 
The fears entertained by the ero fishermen were not well founded, 
‘as my vessel did just as well as the French fishing schooners, although 
not quite as well as the English cutters, which are narrow and pointed. 
My Danish men were paid in the manner customary in Denmark, and 
receive, moreover, 2 crowns ($0.53) for every 100 standard cod, and 1 
crown ($0.26) for every 100 cod below the standard size. During the 
long-line fisheries, however, they preferred to work on the share plan. 
Touched Cape Reykjanes on the morning of April 27, and cast anchor 
-on the banks off Cape Skagen during the forenoon of the same day. 
From April 27 to July 1 we fished with hand-lines along the Vester 
