167 
something considerable. I was told by the Cap¬ 
tain of the port, that in 1808, 200 sail had been 
seen here at one time. The Russian merchants 
have their agents scattered all over West as well as 
East Finmarlc. They make their purchases from 
the Finmarker, with flour, brandy, sail-cloth, fish¬ 
ing-lines, coarse cloth, and other articles of that 
kind, for enabling them to carry on the hunting and 
fishing business. I was informed that 3000 boats 
were yearly employed by the Finmarkers in fish¬ 
ing; for as soon as the hunting season is over, they 
devote their whole attention to the fisheries. Four 
or five men are attached to each boat. 
44 Cod and herrings abound on this coast, and are 
the finest I ever saw, being of a much firmer and 
better texture than those caught on the banks of 
Newfoundland. 
46 As the Finmarker dries his fish in the sun, 
without salt, it must be but a very poor employ¬ 
ment ; but as all his wants are easily supplied, with 
this kind of commerce he is satisfied, and thinks 
money of little consideration. Perhaps, after all, 
they are more happy than the lower orders of more 
enlightened nations. 
44 Perhaps a fishing establishment at Hammer- 
fest might be attended with considerable advantage. 
The deepness of the water would render a depar¬ 
ture from the mode of fishing observed on the banks 
of Newfoundland indispensible. The hook and line 
are here of little consequence. The Finmarkers all 
fish with nets, and we adopted the same method 
with considerable success. No place is better adapt- 
