134 NATURAL H I S T O R Y of N R WA T. 



leap. There is a ft range and hazardous way of catching Salmon 

 pratlifed in the diocefe of Chriilianfand, near that famous bridge 

 a-crofs the river Mandal, called Biellands-Broe, which is built 

 upon piles, refling on two high and ileep rocks, and is reckoned 

 one of the moll: curious pieces of architecture in this country : 

 it is 36 feet above the common furface of the water, tho' fome- 

 times it rifes To high as to touch the bridge,, when.the fnow melts 

 Dangerous fuddenly from the rocks. A little way to the north of this 

 mg " bridge, near a farm-houfe called Fofs, this river falls from the 

 top of a high rock, which projects out, with rugged ft ones on 

 each fide, and deep caves at the bottom : the violence of the 

 fall makes the water foam and play up like a fountain. Into 

 thefe deep caverns,, jufl by the cafcade, do thefe people venture 

 themfelves, on a float made of pieces of timber, tied together 

 with twigs. If the float breaks their lives are at flake ; for they 

 muft fall into the ilream, which carries them away with an 

 amazing violence. This happens fometimes, and they have been 

 taken up half dead, at a considerable diflance from the place. 

 Upon thefe rafts they enter the hollow places of the rock, in 

 which the Salmon loves to take fhelter. When they are driven out 

 hy the fifhermen, they crowd in great numbers to the entrance 

 of the cave, and are taken there. The Salmon is fatteft in 

 Spring, but is lighter and looks paler if caught after Midfummer. 

 Many of the peafants that live in the provinces bordering on the 

 fea, make a coniiderable advantage of the Salmon-fifhery, and 

 even clear more than their taxes by it. There is annually 

 exported a vail: quantity of them, fome dried in the fmoak, 

 and fome pickled, in barrels, to Bremen, Holland, Flanders and 

 France. It has been known, that in one day more than 2000 

 frefh Salmons have been brought into Bergen. 

 Lodde. The Lodde, or Stinking- Fifh, is a Sea-Fifh, in fhape fome- 



what like a Herring, but not eatable, tho 7 'tis extremely fat. When 

 they are fometimes thrown up on fhore in llormy weather, by 

 the violence of the currents, the goats will eat them; but their 

 fiefh will be infe&ed with fuch a difagreeable fmell and taile 

 that they cannot be afterwards eaten. The verfes that Mr. Peter 

 Dafs quotes, p. 47, in his Defcription of Nordland, in which 

 place alone they feem to be known, reprefent the Lodde as a very 

 mifchievous Fifh, which entices others of more value away with 

 him from the fhore, and may be looked upon as a nufance to 

 the country. 



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