122 FISHERIES OF THE NORTH SEA 



so long that the difficulty in obtaining 

 necessary supplies for the business have 

 caused an almost complete cessation of 

 this trade. Coal in Iceland is now (1918) 

 about 15 per ton, and petrol unobtainable ; 

 thus the steam- and motor-boats have had 

 to husband their supplies by only fishing 

 when- the fish are exceptionally plentiful. 

 The markets are also restricted, since 

 freights to the Mediterranean are almost 

 prohibitive ; and, although the values of 

 salt-fish are, in spite of restrictions, much 

 higher, they do not at present compensate 

 the Icelander for the enormous increase 

 in the cost of fishing. 



Situated midway between Scotland and 

 Iceland, the Faroe Isle^, a group of 

 picturesque and precipitous islands in. 

 formation similar to the Orkneys and 

 Shetlands, are the rendezvous for a number 

 of British trawlers which fish regularly 

 on the banks adjacent. The inhabitants, 

 who number about 17,000, of the fisherman- 

 crofter type of Scandinavians, are in- 

 dustrious and gifted with kindness and 

 hospitality. Discovered by the Vikings, 

 the archipelago originally owed allegiance 



