216 THE NATURALIST IN NORWAY. 



the Christiania market for sixpence per dozen. Only 

 the small lobsters are eaten here, the larger and 

 coarser ones are exported ; considering the difference 

 of price between Norway and London, the profits of 

 the Norwegian lobster-trade must be enormous. 



The dolphin is common in some of the larger Nor- 

 wegian fjords, and is eaten by all classes. The flesh 

 is firm, and has somewhat the flavour of fresh pork. 

 The common seal is also common in the Norwegian 

 fjords. I have often seen seals basking in the sun on 

 the low rocks in the fjord near Christiania ; they 

 shuffle off to the water as soon as any one approaches. 

 Whales are occasionally seen off the coast of Finmark ; 

 the same may be said of sharks during the summer 

 months, on the south coast of Norway. 



While on the subject of fishing, I may just mention 

 a peculiar method of capturing fish, which is common 

 to Norway and Scotland. The fishes are caught at 

 night by a trident, or barbed spear, called in Scotland 

 a ' ' leister," and in Norway " en lyster" A bright 

 fire of coals is made in a grating in the bow of a boat, 

 and the light attracts the fishes, which come to look 

 at the blaze, when a man stands ready with the leister, 

 so as to spear the fish as it comes into view. 



The traveller in this country who is fond of novelty, 

 may just ask for and taste a morsel of rak-oret. This 

 is literally rotten fish. It is generally made of trout, 

 which is buried in the ground until it is in a state of 

 putrefaction, when it is taken up and eaten. The 

 flavour may be imagined, but cannot be described ; it 

 is, however, considered a great delicacy by certain 

 Norwegians, even of the better class. 



Although the English sportsman who visits Norway 



