174 NATURAL HISTORY of NORWAY. 



the proprietor makes a bad voyage, and is a great lofer by it ; 

 for fuch a cargo is valuable, and very profitable, when they arrive 

 fafe to thofe populous cities, where they are fold to a great 

 advantage. A Lobfter in Norway is valued at no more than 

 two {killings, or a penny fterling : this is a fix'd price when a 

 Lobfter is eight inches long, or above, which is the ftandard 

 authorized by the government ; but if they be lefs, or want any 

 of the claws *, they are fold for one Ikilling. At this low rate 

 they produce annually 10,000 rix-dollars in the diocefe of Sta- 

 vanger alone, fince the public, within thefe twenty years, has 

 encouraged this fifhery, by providing bulTes, which export them 

 from Stavanger, Egarfund, and other ports ; but for the reafbns 

 mentioned above they can make but one voyage, which muft be 

 in the Spring. The beft places or harbours for Lobfters, in each 

 of which three or four buffes may be loaded every year, are Sku- 

 defnsefs, Akre, Prsefte-havn, Vaage or Akre i Buk von See, 

 Stierne Oe, Hvidings Oe., Tanan and Tananger. Eaftward of Lin- 

 delhxfs there are caught and exported alfo a considerable number 

 of Lobfters,but I have no particular account of the quantities. 



That foreigners may not run away with the greateft profit by 

 an early voyage, it is eftablifhed, that in each of the before-faid 

 harbours a Norway velTel muft be loaded, before they have per- 

 miflion to fell any to foreigners. In Sundhordlehn we have alio, 

 within thefe few years, carried on the Lobfter-fifhery, and annually 

 export them f . In fome parts of Norway they pickle Lobfters 

 with vinegar and fpices. The peafants in many places do not 

 ieem to like this fbrt of Fifh ; and tho' Lobfters and Oyfters are 

 to be had in fuch plenty, and are reckoned a delicacy by fome, 

 they do not regard them. 



SECT. VII. 



Craw fifh. Craw-fifh are found in fome of the rivers in the diocefe of Ag- 



gerhuus, particularly at Friderickftad ; but in this part of the 

 country they will not thrive. Of this a correfpondent of credit 

 has allured me from his own experience. He has endeavoured to 

 breed them in frefh water at his country-houfe, but to no pur- 



* That the great number of Lobfters crowded together in one place mould not bite 

 off one another's claws, which they are apt to do, they tye up the claws of every one 

 of them with packthread. 



-f* Mr. Danckertfon, receiver of the duties at Storoen, gives an account that, in 

 this prefent year, from his fifhery alone a quantity of Lobfters, to the amount of 

 6000 rix-dollars at prime coft, have been exported. The inhabitants of Zirkfee in 

 Holland firft began this trade, and enriched themfelves furprifingly by it. Now the 

 Englifh likewife carry on this fifhery, and catch a great many Lobfters on the coaft 

 of Holland. 



pofe. 



