CONCERNING LAPLAND. 
241 
they are only ufed by them as bait for fuch fifli as they do catch. 
Indeed, confidering the incredible numbers of fifh in this neigh¬ 
bourhood, it appears wonderful that the fifhery is not carried on 
with more fpirit and ability ; but there feems the like inattention 
here to this fpecies of human induftry, as is obfervable in the 
fifheries on the northern coafts of Great Britain. It may per¬ 
haps be the policy of Denmark rather to promote the falmon and 
cod fifheries than that of herrings, and probably the impoffibility 
is feen of rivalling the Dutch at foreign markets, who have ob¬ 
tained a preference by their excellent method of curing this fifli. 
Befides the fifli juft mentioned, thefe feas furnifli fturgeon, lam¬ 
preys, flounders (called in Norway Jlynders), foies, turbot, and 
rnofl of the fifli to be met with on other coafls, befides lobfters, 
crabs, prawns, and other fliell-fifli. The lakes are ftored with 
pike, perch, trouts, eels, and other frefli water fifties. 
Before we clofe our catalogue of Lapland fiflies, we fliould think 
ourfelves unpardonable not to notice what has been faid of a fea- 
monfter called the krake, or, as the word has been ufed in the 
plural number, the kraken. This prodigy is fuppofed to be a fifli 
that rarely appears on the furface, but has occafionally been feen 
by fifliermen who were looking for a proper place to throw their 
nets. They were fometimes furprifed on fuch occafions at find¬ 
ing, after the firft: time they threw the lead from their boat, in 
order to afcertain the meafure of the water, that the apparent 
depth continued to diminifli every time they repeated the expe¬ 
riment ; and imagining that this decreafe could be only occafioned 
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