THE KING'S MIRROR 125 



There is a fish not yet mentioned which it is scarcely 

 advisable to speak about on account of its size, which to 

 most men will seem incredible. There are, moreover, 

 but very few who can tell anything definite about it, 

 inasmuch as it is rarely seen by men; for it almost never 

 approaches the shore or appears where fishermen can 

 see it, and I doubt that this sort of fish is very plentiful 

 in the sea. In our language it is usually called the "kra- 

 ken." I can say nothing definite as to its length in ells, 

 for on those occasions when men have seen it, it has 

 appeared more like an island than a fish. Nor have I 

 heard that one has ever been caught or found dead. It 

 seems likely that there are but two in all the ocean and 

 that these beget no offspring, for I believe it is always 

 the same ones that appear. Nor would it be well for 

 other fishes if they were as numerous as the other whales, 

 seeing that they are so immense and need so much food. 

 It is said, that when these fishes want something to eat, 

 they are in the habit of giving forth a violent belch, 

 which brings up so much food that all sorts of fish in the 

 neighborhood, both large and small, will rush up in the 

 hope of getting nourishment and good fare. Meanwhile 

 the monster keeps it mouth open, and inasmuch as its 

 opening is about as wide as a sound or fjord, the fishes 

 cannot help crowding in in great numbers. But as soon as 

 its mouth and belly are full, the monster closes its mouth 

 and thus catches and shuts in all the fishes that just 

 previously had rushed in eagerly to seek food.* 



* The kraken myth probably came to the North with the legend of St. Bren- 

 dan, an Irish abbot, who was believed to have made a journey into the At- 



