[7] THE ICELAND COD FISHERIES. 377 



7,312 "torsk-kuller" [haddock, Gadus cvr/HJinns] weiglied, wLeii salted, Gl 

 skippimd, 228 poniKl.s [19,748 lbs.]. On July C we left Dyra fiord (Thin- 

 gcyre) on onr last trip for this season, and continued our fisheries the 

 same evening near Kopparmx'S. 



From this point down to the Fugle bjerge we found principally bottom 

 cod, or "standiug cod," as they are also called, with a dirty, gray belly. 

 As a general rule there is more even fishing ou banks where the fish 

 make a steady sojourn than in i^laces where one can only count on school- 

 fish, as out near Varden. Of well-known wolf-fish grounds near the 

 Westlaud, we would mention the region from the Suoudar fiord as for 

 as the Stigahlidsfjeld, the Arnar fiord, and the region between Bjarnanupr 

 and Staalbjerghuk. With a northeast wind we sailed during the fol-. 

 lowing days past Straumnies, and a strong current from the north 

 ♦Irifted us into Brede Bay, which has the reputation of being fall of 

 fish. During the forenoon we caught abont 200 large, fat codfish, but 

 unfortunately we were becalmed in the hay and could not get out -till 

 the evening of the following day. As soon after, when we had proceeded 

 as far as Bjarnanuijr, a strong wind sprang up from the northeast, and we 

 had again to seek the shelter of Brede Bay, where we had successful 

 fishing till July 21, when a southwest wind compelled us to leave. 



Schools of codfish seemed now to have come to these regions in good 

 earnest, and we made many catches, averaging 500 to 700 fi.sh. Expe- 

 rience has taught me that the whole northern i^ortiou of the Brede 

 Bay may be recommended as an excellent fishing-place, especially ow- 

 ing to the fact that the northeast wind is the prevailing wind along 

 the Westland, for during this wind the bay affords good shelter. The 

 bottom of the bay is very uneven and crossed in all directions by nu- 

 merous furrows, which are the favorite resorts of the c»odfish. It should 

 also be observed that wherever deep bays interrupt the coast-line, and 

 where several currents meet, the fish will, as a general rule, find good 

 feeding places, and consequently a great number of fish will be found 

 in such places. This applies to the Eosten, the Isa fiord, the bank near 

 the North Cape, near Skagestrand, Grimsey, Langanaes, «S;c. 



The remaining, jjortion of July we drifted with a southwest wind 

 along the shore of the Westland. From Myrakottr, in the middle of 

 the Dyra fiord, and farther east we had good fishing on July 22 at a 

 depth of 50 fathoms — large, fat codfish in schools, and among them a 

 large number of small flounders, which make excellent bait. Ou the 

 whole, however, the result was not above the average. The July fish- 

 eries, which are generally considered the best summer fisheries in these 

 regions, yielded us only about 7,000 fish — about the same number as 

 we caught in May, 1881. On July 29 our little fleet, composed of the 

 Alma and the three fishing-smacks, f)yrafiord, Isafiord, and Patriks- 

 fiord, was united at the port of Thingeyre, and the following days we 

 were busy in lauding the fish we had caught, taking in salt, &c. 



