LOFODEN NOltWEGIAN COD-LIVEK OIL. 
315 
sonal importance, together with the pleasures of social reunions, and the excite¬ 
ment of competitive trade are too great temptations for their natural prudence 
aud thrift to resist. At Bergen, before the oil passes into the merchant’s hands, 
it is classified, by brokers appointed by government, into three qualities, known 
as the light yellow, light brown, and brown. The average price of the light 
brown oil is from three shillings to three shillings and sixpence per gallon. 
Although many of these particulars relate to the fisheries at Lofoden, it is 
proper to be understood that cod- fish are taken along the whole coast of Nor¬ 
way all the year round, and especially on the coast of Finmark during the 
months of April and May when the Lofoden fishing is over. But in all these 
cases the cod are no longer alone; with them are many cognate and other 
species, who move all together in pursuit of common prey, or pursued by common 
enemies. Among these are herrings of several varieties, the capelin Mallotus 
arcticus , inferior sorts of cod as Gadus merlangus , and many other small fish. At 
Finmark the Gadus morrhua aud the Gadusvirens arrive in about equal quantities, 
and of course are caught in the same nets. The Gadus carbonarius or coal-fish, 
also associate with the cod in great numbers, and are captured with them, as 
well as Gadus molva and Gadus ceglejinus. In pursuit of these, and taken with 
them are Scymnus borealis , Squalus acanthias , Squalus sphinx , and Selachus 
maximus. These with many other varieties, frequenting the Norwegian coasts, 
have all of them livers yielding oil. 
Now, remembering that some of the fishermen are agricultural labourers, and 
that all belong to the lower and least educated classes ; also, that the livers are 
treated by them at their own huts without any kind of supervision ; and that 
they are not only indifferent to but probably ignorant of the medicinal supe¬ 
riority of cod-liver over other livers ; also that higher prices are realized at 
Bergen for one kind of oil than for another,—these things together may, with¬ 
out making any uncharitable imputations, possibly tempt these men to sell as 
true Lofoden oil the compound products of their several local fisheries. There is 
reason to believe that this is actually done ; that the dealers in Bergen, who are as 
a class without pretension to scientific skill, buy without precaution and sell 
without scruple as Lofoden oil, much that has never been at Lofoden, and has 
not been carefully made exclusively from cod-liver. Of the oils taken to market 
at Bergen, those prepared by the peasants are open to less objection than those 
prepared by the fishermen ; for the labourers fish only during the season at 
Lofoden, where they can take cod-livers alone, and during the remainder of the 
year follow other kinds of labour about the long narrow fjords, which are en¬ 
tered by few fish. 
These northern islands claim to be the only place in the world where the cod¬ 
fish, the true Gadus morrhua , is found in immense shoals, absolutely alone. 
Whether this be so or not is a question that, with our present limited know¬ 
ledge of fisheries throughout the world, and especially of those at Newfound¬ 
land, may be left till more information has been accumulated ; at present it is 
enough to know that Lofoden does possess this very remarkable advantage, 
aud that the produce of its fisheries is a true cod-liver oil beyond doubt or 
suspicion. 
Fully sensible of the great natural advantages possessed by these islands, Mr. 
Moller of Christiania, has been for many years desirous of introducing into 
general use a superior method of preparing the oil. Manufactories following 
his suggestions are in operation at Lofoden, Sondmore, Christiansund and 
Finmark. About twelve years ago he endeavoured to secure the results of his 
process by means of a patent, but without success. The government, however, 
recognised the superiority of his method as well as the value of his services to 
an important branch of national industry, aud his Majesty the King of Norway 
and Sweden was pleased to confer upon him the Vasa Order. 
