[Jl] THE ICELAND COD FISHEEIES. 



The result of the Eastland fisheries was as foJlows : 



381 



Vessels. 



Alma 



Dyiatiord . . . 



Taaflord 



ratriksfiord 



Salt cod, haddock, 

 ling, torsk, and 

 coS-fish. 



Nnmher. "Weight. 



27, 427 

 32, 000 

 26, 642 

 26, 172 



Pounds. 

 40, 347 

 51,066 

 36, 848 

 42, 200 



Salt fins, 

 gills, &c. 



Ton. 



Liver. 



Kegs. 

 9i 

 8 

 7 

 9 



Of the entire quantity (176,461 pounds salt fish) there were large 

 fish, 50,880 pounds, or about 30 per cent 5 small fish, 79,360 jjounds, 

 or about 46.5 per cent ; haddock, 36,480 pounds, or about 21.3 per cent 5 

 coal-fish, 3,840 pounds, or about 2.2 per cent. 



The quantity of liver was, therefore, about 2.2 per cent of the weight 

 of the fresh fish, one ton of liver being yielded by 2,400 codfish. Of 

 the entire quantity of liver (33^ kegs) 27^ were landed on the Faroe 

 Islands, and yielded 8 kegs of oil. The proportion was, therefore, two- 

 sevenths, not much better than in the Westland fisheries, taking into 

 consideration the greater fatness of the livers. 



As regards the quantity of salt used, the result of my experience is 

 as follows : 



In 1881 I used for 83,840 pounds of cured fish 305 tons of salt, or 1^ 

 tons per each 320 pounds. 



In 1882 I used for 66,240 pounds of cured fish 264 tons of salt, or 1\ 

 tons per each 320 pounds. 



In 1883 for 291,200 pounds of cured fish 1,300 tons of salt, or 1^ tons 

 per each 320 pounds. 



The salt used during these three years was exclusively Liverpool salt, 

 and I always counted 265 pounds of fish to a ton of salt. I should 

 mention, however, that in 1883 the salt was too fine and therefore too 

 weak, and turned to brine too rapidly. Some people prefer St. Ives salt, 

 which is more expensive but coarser. 



The total result of the Alma's Iceland fisheries in 1883, when salted, 

 therefore represents a weight of about 106,350 pounds, which quantity 

 of fish, when fresh (with the head and entrails), would be 2.7 x 106,350 

 pounds = 287,145 pounds, my observations having shown that the 

 shrinking during the cleaning and while in the salt is i|-, leaving but 

 ^Y of the original matter. 



An average price of 7 ore per pound would therefore yield a gross 

 income of 20,100 crowns [$5,386.80], while the actual income will only be 

 about 16,000 crowns [$4,288]. Such a price for the fresh fish would 

 correspond to 28 ore [between 6 and 7 cents] per pound of klip-fish, 

 while 20 ore [about 5 cents] must be called a good average price for fish 

 bought at first-hand. 



