140 APPENDIX. 



other articles of that kind, for enabling them to car- 

 ry on the fishing and hunting business. I was in- 

 formed that 3000 boats were yearly employed by the 

 Finmarkers in fishing ; for as soon as the hunting 

 season is over, they devote their whole attention to 

 the fisheries. Four or flVe men are attached to each 

 boat. 



" Cod and herrings abound on this coast, and are 

 the finest I ever saw, being of a much firmer and 

 better texture than those caught on the banks of 

 Newfoundland. 



'* As the Finmarker dries his fish in the sun, 

 without salt, it must be but a very poor employ- 

 ment : but, as all his wants are easily supplied, 

 with this kind of commerce he is satisfied, and 

 thinks money of little consideration. Perhaps, after 

 all, they are more happy than the lower orders of 

 more enlightened nations. 



" Perhaps a fishing establishment at Hammer- 

 fest might be attended with considerable advan- 

 tage. The deepness of the water would render 

 a departure from the mode of fishing observed on 

 the banks of Newfoundland indispensable. The 

 hook and line are here of little consequence. The 

 Finmarkers all fish with nets, and we adopted 

 the same method with considerable success. No 

 place is better adapted than this for curing with 



