380 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [10] 



near Langautes and Grimsey. The line-fisheries for school codfish 

 which go after the herring at a depth of 50 fathoms, are principally 

 carried on near Langanses. Some of these fishing-smacks towards the 

 end of the season fill their tanks with live fish, which they sell in Eno-. 

 land, where fabulous sums are often paid for large live codfish and 

 halibut. 



The newly-built i^orwegian fishing schooner Gunguer, from Tonsberg 

 built at Framnses, near Sande Fiord, on the American plan, was last year 

 engaged in the cod fisheries near Iceland. She was said to be owned 

 bj- Svend Foyn, and as she came to the Nord fiord during our stay there, 

 I had an opportunity of examining her. Her tonnage was 62 ; length, 80 

 feet ; drew water lOJ feet aft, and 8 feet forward. The rigging, fore and 

 aft, was that of a schooner, with masts 70 feet long, and the hull was 

 beech at the bottom, oak at the top, fastened with copper. Fully 

 equipped, and with all the necessary fishing apparatus, she had cost 

 24,000 crowns [|6,432]. She had 6 dories, 3 of which were fitted 

 exactly within the other 3, so as to take up but little space. In the 

 hold of the vessel there was a cabin, a forecastle for the sailors, a salt- 

 room, and a bait-room, with an ice-room on each side, so that bait can 

 be kept fresh for a long time. It had also been intended to place on 

 board a steam oil-refining apparatus, so that medicinal oil could be 

 prepared, as is done on most American vessels. The Gunguer had a 

 crew of 14 Norwegians, who fished alternately with the hand line aud 

 with the long line, according to circumstances. When the long line is 

 to be used, the vessel remains at anchor near the fishing station, and 

 the dories go out, each with two men, but never very far from the vessel. 

 Each boat has 1,000 hooks fixed on the American plan. 



From the 14th to the 29th of August the Gunguer had caught about 

 8,000 codfish and about 5,000 pounds halibut. The latter (like the 

 codfish) had been dry-salted, but it was the intention on returning 

 to ]!^orway to wash them and smoke them, making an article which 

 is said to find a ready sale in America at 12 cents per pound. The 

 Gunguer had fished all along the coast of the IsTorthland, especially 

 near Grimsey and Eodehuk (southwest from the Huk at a depth of 50 

 fathoms), and had come to the O fiord to secure a supply of fresh her- 

 ring for bait. The above yield must be called very good, considering 

 that the crew was small and inexperienced. It may be well to direct 

 attention to the fact that these 14 men could fish with 5 or 6 boats, 

 using 5,000 or 6,000 hooks, while our 18 men could only man 4 boats 

 with about 1,500 hooks. Herein the Americans show their superiority, 

 as they thoroughly understand how to use human strength in the most 

 reasonable and economical manner. 



Our fisheries came to a close on October 7, when the Alma left the 

 Nordfiord. All in all, our fisheries had been interrupted for five days 

 on account of stormy weather. The fish from all the 4 vessels were 

 landed on the Faroe Islands to be dried there in the coming spring. 



