306 HISTORY AND METHODS OF THE FISHERIES. 



THE BLACKFISH FISHERY AT THE FAROE ISLES.* At the Faroe Islands the blackflsh 

 (Globioceplialus melas) fishery is carried on in practically the same manner as at Gape Cod, on the 

 Massachusetts coast. The schools of blackfish are driven ashore and killed, or are lanced and 

 towed ashore. They are in some cases kept in the bays or fiords by a large net, a smaller one some- 

 times being nsed to gather the animals nearer together so as to drive them ashore. When im- 

 possible to drive them the crew of each boat kill as many as possible with lances or harpoons. 



When a herd is discovered, a signal is given, and boats from the different islands meet at the 

 place appointed by the signal fires or by the white-blanket signals displayed on the hills. The 

 boats immediately form in half circle about the school, and by throwing stones in the water drive 

 the animals to the fiord. A noise with tin pans is sometimes made to increase their confusion. 



Leaders are elected, who give orders to the several boats, and every person is obliged to obey 

 instructions given. Besides stones for throwing in the water, each boat has whale lances and 

 hooks the largest boats four lances and three hooks. The lances are 12 inches Jong and 4 inches 

 broad, on a wooden shaft 6 feet long. The harpoon is seldom nsed, and only at the last extremity, 

 when it is found impossible to drive the animals. 



The net used for driving is 200 fathoms long, 8 fathoms deep, with meshes G inches square 

 made of 9-yarn rope; lead sinkers on the bottom rope, and fifty oak barrels for floats. 



The name "grind" is given to a herd of blackfish, a single whale being called a "grindshval" 

 or "griudfish," the young ones being known as "Leiptur." In olden times these fish, sometimes 

 known as "Huidingur," were a great source of food to the people of Iceland. 



White-painted stones are useful to drive the whales. Tin plates beaten against stones are 

 often used to scare the animals. A grind is sometimes held "at bay" in a fiord all night, or until 

 the weather moderates so that they can be driven to the slaughtering ground. When thus " at 

 bay" the herd is called "grinder," and lies quietly stowed together in a limited space as docile as a 

 flock of sheep. The use of a harpoon is prohibited until it is evident that the animals cannot be 

 driven, then each man "goes it alone." The net is trawled behind and about the herd so as to 

 drive them into the fiord and keep them there. Sometimes they rush under or over the net. To 

 avoid their loss in this manner a second net was devised, used within the first, and has been 

 very successfully used for many years. 



The smaller net, of 100 fathoms length, and "much easier to handle than the large one, is used 

 to bar the grind upon a smaller portion of the harbor, by which means much time is saved when 

 the grind breaks through the smaller net, as it has not a fourth part of the harbor to move in." 

 Not a single fish has escaped since this plan was devised. From 1813 to 1878 six thousand and 

 thirty whales were caught in this way, worth 20,100; while from 1584 to 1843, two hundred and 

 sixty years, only two thousand one hundred and sixty-nine were caught. 



" When the grind has arrived at the mouth of the whale voe the boats are arranged for the 

 attack, generally in three rows, with a proper distance between each row, in order that if the grind 

 should break through the first row the second may take its place and turn it, and so on." 



The attack is called " holding a grind to." One of the boats in the first row approaches close 

 to the herd as it swims about in 5 fathoms of water, and wounds one animal with a lance; the 

 wounded animal rushes among the herd and frightens them, when they rush about, generally 

 toward the beach, and many are stranded. The first row of boats rush among the herd and with 

 lances and knives kill as many as possible. The second and third rows of boats keep ontside, in 

 clear water, until it is evident the animals are bewildered and seek the bloody water; they then 

 join the other boats, and in a short time dispatch the entire herd. 



* Compiled from prize essay by H. C. Mtiller, published in the Prize Essays of the Edinburgh Fisheries Exhi- 

 bition. 



