168 
ed than this for curing with salt. From its situa¬ 
tion, embosomed by hills, the thermometer in the 
summer, as our observations shew, often reaches a 
very high degree of temperature. With proper 
management, a cod might then have been prepared 
for the market in three days, while at Newfound¬ 
land, in the best weather, it requires five. 
66 At Newfoundland, they have only from 12 t@ 
14 hours sun; at Hammerfest, nearly four months. 
The advantages, therefore, as to climate, on the 
side of Hammerfest, are most obvious. Perhaps, 
too, an establishment in the North might, in time 
of war, be of some importance, as it would the 
better enable us to prevent our enemies enjoying 
any share of so lucrative a trade as the whale fish- 
ing. 
“ The cold is by no means so intense in winter 
as might be expected. The inner harbour, though 
seldom agitated by winds, was never seen frozen 
over; and the moonlight is sufficiently strong to 
render labour practicable. Nature has been very 
provident with respect to fuel, the whole country 
abounding with good turf. The severity of the cli¬ 
mate diminishes the vital principle in the human 
race; the men soon get old, and the women are 
past child-bearing at 35. 
64 The chace of the bear, who is never killed be¬ 
fore January or February, when they are in the best 
condition, sets the courage and cool deliberation of 
the Finmarker in a most conspicuous point of view. 
In October, the Finmarker carefully watches the 
haunts of the bear, who at that time seeks for a 
