Tlie Cod Fishery in Various Countries. 33 



The fishermen pay great attention to the curing. The 

 fish is neatly packed in boxes with the fins trimmed oflf. 



The extensive fishing bank which is periodically visited 

 by the cod, stretches from Rost, a low group of islands 

 forming the south-westernmost range of the Lofoden chain 

 of islands, up to the very head of the West Fiord ; a distance 

 of about 70 English miles. 



The number of boats engaged is nearly 6000, of which 

 one-fifth have nets, and the remainder lines and deep-sea 

 lines. The latter are of various lengths, supported on the 

 surface by floats, with a buoy at each end. From this float- 

 ing line, numerous baited lines are suspended at regular 

 distances. There are also about 400 vessels of various 

 kinds usually assembled, partly for fishing, but chiefly for 

 purchasing fish as they are brought in. 



The boats engaged in fishing with nets are from 36 

 to 40 feet long, and nine to ten feet wide, with a depth 

 of not more than three feet. They are provided with 

 only a single mast, about 24 feet high, carrying one large 

 square sail. But each boat has as well 10 or 12 oars, by 

 means of which her sturdy crew can propel her against an 

 adverse wind. For fishing with lines, smaller ships, mostly 

 boats, are used. The crew usually consist of five men and 

 a boy. 



In the month of December, the first shoals of cod 

 usually begin to appear on the western banks of the islands, 

 arriving from the open sea. These are soon followed by- 

 great masses of fish. But as these western outside shores 

 are shallow, the ports few, and the whole coast exposed 

 to the frequent fury of the North Sea, not more than from 

 600 to 800 boats venture on the hazards of this early fish- 

 ing, and the take seldom exceeds 5,000,000 or 6,000,000 

 of fish. 



D 



