72 
LAX ELBE. 
skeleton; for the Danes, who had planned it, 
never finished the' execution of it. During the 
voyage, we were amused with the number of 
eider-fowl that were swimming about in all di¬ 
rections, with their young, and we also saw se¬ 
veral Swans and Mergansers (Mergus s err at or ), 
besides many black Guillemots (Colymbus Troile), 
and abundance of seals were continually playing 
within the reach of gun-shot from our boat. 
Near the mill, a causeway of stones had been 
formed across the river, with three openings, in 
which were boxes for catching the salmon as 
they return down the river from spawning. 
Twenty were taken by these means in one night, 
and so plentiful were they in a pool a little below 
this spot, that in a few minutes one of our 
boatmen caught six, by striking a .pole, with 
three barbed points at them. Three or four 
others also were caught, by the man leaning 
over the bank, and suddenly seizing them with 
his hands. On wet ground, near the mill, 
Splachnum ampullaceum and Buxbaumia foliosa 
were not uncommon. As soon as we reached 
Reikevig in the evening, we were informed that 
several persons had called on Mr. Savigniac, to 
say, that a conspiracy was in agitation amongst 
the Icelanders, who intended to surround the 
government house, and, after having secured 
such persons as were in it, to take possession 
