THE HERRING FISHERIES. 13 



in the eastern fjords ; they are never found on the south 

 and south-west coasts. 



The shoals, in their migration to the north and north- 

 east coasts of Iceland, sweep into those fjords possessing 

 deep water and feeding properties, and so we find them 

 abundantly in such fjords as Eskjfjord or Seydisfjord. 



The fishery is carried on in these fjords, and principally 

 by Norwegian fishermen, who stay for the season, curing 

 the fish at the various stations or wooden sheds erected for 

 the purpose. 



The Norwegian boats are larger than the Icelandic boats, 

 but yet smaller than those of the east coast of Scotland. 



The fishing is by means of the seine-net, and in large 

 takes the ends of the net are anchored ashore, when the 

 operations may now be compared to the pilchard fishery 

 of Cornwall, the fish being taken out as they can cure 

 them. The nets vary in size to suit the varying depths, 

 with a mesh of half an inch. 



The best kinds of white fish are found here in conjunc- 

 tion with the herring, besides many of the numerous enemies 

 that pursue the shoals, such as sharks, " herring whalers," 

 catfish, wolf-fish, sea-gulls, &c., &c., and by the end of the 

 season, or at least in September, herring nearly one pound 

 in weight are taken, and such usually measure fourteen 

 inches in length. It ought to be noticed that medium 

 herring, or even the small ones, are preferable in quality. 



As stated, the Icelanders do not follow out the herring 

 fishery, and although Nonvay takes a leading share in this 

 fishery, the east coast is represented in these waters through 

 the firm of Messrs. Slimon, Leith. 



Shetland is realising the growing importance of the 

 herring fishery, for although they pursued the cod fishery 

 with skiffs in comparison to the open boats, or even the 



