NATURAL HISTORY of NOR WA T. 157 



Herrings, with thofe fettnings-garn, or fett-nets. This has occa- 

 sioned feyeral law-fuits in the country, and at length a general 

 controverfy, which is as much (harper, as it is more important, strong contro- 

 than many of the trifling difputes which engage our learned wri- verfy ' 

 ters. However, the fifhermen and peafants are agreed in this 

 point, namely, that it is the duty of an honeft man to fhut his 

 eyes and ears againft all new difcoveries, and obftinately to infill 

 upon it, that all things mould remain as they were in the time 

 of their fore-fathers; that method being apparently the beffc. 

 They have reprefented at the courts of juftice, and at their feveral 

 meetings on this occasion, that nets fright the Cod away, and 

 ought not to be tolerated, but coniidered as a pernicious innova- 

 tion. Thefe obje&ions, on the other hand, are contradi&ed by 

 experience, which is the beft inftrutlor ; for it is undeniable, that 

 fince thefe nets have been ufed, there has been exported from this 

 city, and, in all probability, from other parts of Norway, a much 

 greater quantity of Fifh than ever. The truth perhaps is, that 

 nets, which are very beneficial to the public, may perhaps preju- 

 dice fome few private people ; I mean fuch as either will not, or 

 are not able to furnim themfelves with thofe expensive large ones 

 above-mentioned. It is indeed a general, but very true obfer- 

 vation, that the rich and wealthy have frequent opportunities of 

 increafmg their wealth, at the expence of the poorer fort of 

 people. What enhances J:he price of nets is, that when the Winter 

 proves ftormy and tempeftous, it deftroys the nets on thefe coafta, 

 to the value of feveral thoufand dollars ; which is a very confi- 

 de rable lofs to the owners* 



I mall now give fome account of the feveral methods of curing various me - 

 this Fifh, and making it fit for exportation. They are either ^hl™" 

 fold as faked Cod, Titling^ Roskiser, Rundfisk, or Klipfisk *. and their «- 

 The -'firft fort, namely Salt Cod, is thus prepared : after the head 

 is cut off, and the entrails are taken out, it is put into a large 

 tub, and ftrew'd over with French fait as it is put in : when it 

 has lain about eight days it is taken up, and laid in heaps, for the 

 pickle to run off; then it is packed up in casks, with Spanim or 

 Portugal fait, the better to preferve it. Titlinger is the name of 

 the leafl fort of Cod, which are only hung up on lines, and fo 



* Under thefe various names of dry'd Cod, which in Denmark are all compre- 

 hended under one name, viz. Rock-fifh, there has been exported from this city in the 

 prefentyear, 1752, during nine months, namely, from the firft of January to the 16th 

 of October, 317,804 nett-weight, each weight being 36 pounds, befides a great deal 

 of pickled Cod in cafks ; from which may be feen the goodnefs of the Creator, and 

 the immenfe wealth contained in the North Tea. Great quantities of Cod are likewife 

 exported from Tronheim, Chriftianfund, and Stavanger ; and for this purpofe alone 

 there is annually imported to Bergen 40,000 tons of Spanilh and French fait. 



Part II. S f dry'd. 



