HAVNFIORD. 
187 
considerable dexterity in seizing the salmon in 
the river, afforded infinite amusement to his fe¬ 
male assistants, who took great pleasure in throw¬ 
ing the largest of the fish at him, and, as often as 
they could strike him on the head or face or on 
any part where the blow would be least accepts 
able, united in a loud peal of laughter. Far from 
being ashamed of this little trick, they would 
wade up to him, assure him of his dexterity as 
a fisherman, and, with great familiarity, ask him 
to shake hands with them. Before three o’clock 
in the afternoon two thousand two hundred sal¬ 
mon * were caught in the Lax Elbe, all of which 
Mr. Phelps bought of the proprietor of the place, 
and cured two-thirds of them for exportation^; 
the remaining third being allotted to those who 
* To catch such a quantity as this would be considered 
as extraordinary, or even wonderful in any other country. 
Pennant, speaking of the Scotch fisheries, says, The mi- 
fr raculous draught at Thurso is still talked of, not less than 
two thousand five hundred being taken at one tide within 
the memory of man.” Tour in Scotland , vol. i. p. 202;, 
f In this, as in many other points of view, it is unfortu¬ 
nate for the Icelanders that Mr. Phelps’ stay was so short 
among them; for in former years they have had no means of 
disposing of the salmon they caught; and, as the exporting 
of them on their own account has been wholly out of their 
power, all beyond what might be requisite for their own 
consumption has been necessarily wasted. 
