ITS CONSTRUCTION. 183 



purpose of intercepting these passages, as for the greater 

 facility of placing out and attending to the Mjardar, 

 that the Verke, which is of very ancient origin, was 

 designed. 



It is thus constructed : two long and stout poles of 

 juniper or ash in preference, as less liable to rot after 

 being pointed at the lower end, are driven into the bottom 

 at nine to ten inches apart ; and in a line with these, 

 though at intervals of about four feet, a second and a 

 third pair. Parallel with this row of poles, but leaving a 

 sufficient space, called Bds, for the reception of the Mjardar, 

 two or more similar rows of poles are formed. Gran-ris 

 is now placed lengthwise between the several pairs of 

 double poles, to the height of about two feet. Afterwards a 

 Hank* is passed over each pair of poles to keep them in 

 their proper position ; then another layer of Gran-ris ; and so 

 on until the Balk, or wall, has reached above the surface of 

 the water. 



The Mjardar, when placed within the Bas, face inwardly, 

 and as a consequence their respective Ingangar are opposite 

 to each other. They are strung on smooth upright stakes, 

 placed at some little distance within the Bas ; and fre- 

 quently, when the water is pretty deep, three or more are 

 fixed above each other, so that when the first lies at the 

 bottom, the second is in mid-water, and the third near 

 the surface. After this arrangement is made, the Mjardar 

 are carefully covered over with Gran-ris, for the pur- 



* Hank, in the Swedish language, signifies a circular band, whether con- 

 sisting of a wisp of straw, of a sapling, or what not, the ends of which are 

 interwoven. 



