m] THE ICELAND COD FISHERIES. 379 



All the preparations for the long-line fisheries, as well as the trip to the 

 Eastland, generally take up 14 days of the best fishing season, not taking 

 into account that the long-line fisheries involve greater expenses. 



On August 3 the Alma left Thingeyre, but did not get out to sea till 

 the 5th, owing to calms and an easterly current. As it had been re- 

 ported that the ice had gone away from the Northland, it was our in- 

 tention to go round the Northland in a northerly direction 5 but when 

 in the evening we reached the Isa fiord, a breeze sprang up from the 

 ENE., and as at the same time the temperature fell to + 2° R. [36|o 

 F.], I thought that the ice was near again, and concluded to go round 

 in a southerly direction, although this made the voyage longer by about 

 30 miles, and although the current was not favorable. We heard later 

 that the Dyrafiord was forced to turn near the North Cape, and that the 

 Patriksfiord escaped the ice only by sailing all the way down to Skage- 

 strands Bay. Cape Eeikianses was passed on August 7th, Portland on 

 the 10th, but after that we were becalmed and did not reach the Nord 

 fiord till August 14. When we arrived we found 9 other codfish vessels. 

 The first of these had come here in the beginning of the month, and had 

 been successful, catching a good many large and heavy fish. There 

 were here also some Norwegian vessels waiting for the herring, and 

 Svend Foyn with his little steamer Gratia. He was superintending 

 the erection of a large oil refinery. The long-line fisheries are carried 

 on in the following manner : While the vessel lies at anchor in the fiord 

 watching the herring nets, the crew are sent to sea in boats (20 to 24 

 feet long, built at the Faroe Islands), 3, 4, or 5 men being assigned to 

 each boat, according to their size and the condition of the weather. On 

 account of the currents the Faroe fisbermen prefer a line which is not 

 too long, having from 300 to 400 hooks, but which is drawn more fre- 

 quently than longer lines. The fishermen of Denmark often use lines hav- 

 ing 1,000 hooks. For bait are used fresh herring, halibut, wolf-fish, &c., 

 and the baiting is done while the boat is being rowed out of the fiord. 

 Our Danish fishermen would find ifsomewhat difficult to get accustomed 

 to this mode of baiting, as in Denmark this is generally done by the 

 " girls " before the boats leave the shore. Besides the Nord fiord the 

 following fiords in this neighborhood are considered good codfish sta- 

 tions : Eeyder, Faskrud, Bern, and Vapna fiords ; and in the beginning 

 of the season, Borgar and Bakka fiords. 



The O fiord is doubtless a place which would make a good codfish 

 station. It is one of the best herring inlets in Iceland, and it is well 

 known that the codfish always follow the herring, which latter are also 

 of importance as bait. The reason why no cod-fisheries have been at- 

 tempted in the O fiord is probably this, that the Faroe fishermen, after 

 having returned from their trip to the Faroe Islands, always choose the 

 nearest fiords. For Danish vessels, however, it would be worth while 

 to attempt cod-fisheries in the O fiord. 



English fishing-smacks are in autumn generally engaged in fisheries 



