THE RLACKFISH AND PORPOISE FISHERIES. 



307 



The first animal is struck iu the hind part of the body as the herd is headed toward the, 

 shore ; if it be struck forward of the back fin it will roll on its side and swim obliquely, and the rest 

 following will break through the rows of boats and perhaps escape. 



" From the boats and from the shore the men rush into the shallow water and with a cut in the 

 neck with knives kill the animals, and making fast with their hook and line drag the animals on 

 the beach. On one occasion, in 1873, six hundred and fifty-seven whales were killed in four hours." 



"When landed, sworn appraisers mark each whale with number and value; the valuing is done 

 after the old computation of gylden and heind. A whale of medium fatness measures 10 feet from 

 eye to anus, and, according to the regulations, is worth on&-gy-lden (20 heind). Few are larger than 

 that." 



Each whale yields on an average 1 Danish barrel of oil (30 English gallons), worth about 45s 

 The meat is worth half as much, so that a whale of medium size is worth 3 7s. 6d. 



The division is next made as soon as possible, so that each may get his share of meat, which is 

 wholesome and nutritious, and generally pickled. 



One-tenth share goes to the Crown, the church, and the minister. The largest and best animaj 

 is next selected by the crew of the boat that first reached the herd, and the head of this whale goes 

 to the man who discovered them. A compensation is then made to the village where the killing 

 is done, for entertainment of valuers, and then an allowance for damage to boats and implements 

 and personal injuries ; another allowance for keeping watch and valuing ; also for the poor box 

 and school fund. The remainder is then divided into four parts. The owner of the land where 

 the whales are killed gets a share, and the rest goes to the "Eagslesmand," which includes the men 

 who do the killing and also the villagers at the killing place. 



About a tenth of the whales killed usually sink, and are within ten days fished up and sold at 

 public auction, a salvage of one-tenth being deducted and expended in repairs of bridges and land- 

 ing places, on the islands. After ten days the whales found are the property of the finder, with the 

 tenth deduction. Each village and person entitled to a share receives a ticket with the number of 

 the whale belonging to them, and they proceed at once to secure it. In the mean time dancing 

 has been going on, and as each boat puts off with its whale or blubber and meat a song of praise 

 is sung. Whales belonging to the public funds are sold at auction. 



Number of blackfish taken at the Faroe Islands, 1813 to 1877, arranged by months. 

 [Add ont>U'tli fur sunk wbales.] 



