The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1868-04-20
THE LoFoDEN CoD.F1sHER1Es.
wnero tho Cod is Found...now 1t tu
Taken-.How the Cod.Liver OIL Is
Procured.

Procured.
The MIgratIons and Preparations of
the Goldfish.
The London Pharmaceutical Journal
has published a very readable, though
somewhat exhaustive article, concern
ing cod fishing on the Lofoden Islands;
the mode of manufacture and other
particulars respecting the far-famed
Norwegian cod liver oil, much of the
information never before having been
published. The great length OF the ar
ticle forbids our transferring it entire
to our columns, but some extracts will
prove of interest.
Every year, early in the month of
January, the cod begin their great mi
grafton from the deep sea. Moving in
northeasterly direction, they APP
proach the coast ofNorway and concen-
trate themselves upon the Lofoden
Islands, situated near the northern ex-
tremity of Norway, about $50 miles
on the appearance of the immense
shoals OF cod at Lofoden, remarkable
result ensues,-all other kinds of fish
disappear with one consent. The ex-
act cause of this curious phenomenon
Is not yet understood, but literally it is
bait can be no longer taken in those
waters, but have to be imported from
distance, and are sold to the fishermen
as articles of trade. Two important
consequences attend this singular cir
cumstance; one, that the formulated
roe, secure from the predatory attacks
| of many Voracious enemies, has IA
vorable opportunity for development,
whereby a large supply of this valua
BILE fish Is maintained; the second, that
no other fish than cod can be taken in
the nets, and consequently, no other
iivers than those OF the cod can be en-
ployed in the preparation of tho oil.
AS soon as the cod are known to
have arrived, the fishing begins with
out delay. The total number of men
assembled by the first of February is
estimated at $4,000. The quantities OF
cod are prodigious, their numbers in
calculable; good or bad season does
not depend on the variable supply of
tish,-that is apparently the same, and
beyond computation,-but upon the
weather, as every rough day prevents
the open boats putting out to sea, and
occasions serious loss to the whole
| fishery.
Three different methods are employ
ed in the capture of the cod; the deep
line, the long line, and nets. every at
ternoon at given signal from the
surveillance, those fishermen having
|
miles TO their fishing grounds, set their
tackle, then row back and pass the
night on shore. Next morning, the
signal being again given, they all row
as before, take their catch, and return
with it during the afternoon. The fish
ermen with deep lines remain all day
at sea, leaving very early and return
ing in the evening. The distance these
have to row is from four toseven Eng
lish miles.
AS soon as the fisherman has come
TO shore, he proceeds to cut the head OFF
every fish and takes out the roe and
| liver, thus distributing his catch into
four groups. The roe he usually salts
Immediately. The livers are disposed
ofin the following manner;Ih some he
throws at once into large wooden
vessels, holding from eight to twelve
hogsheads, and by frequent agitation
| and stirring with wooden heaters, OBJ
tains from them, at the ordinary tenn
perature, fine Transparent oil, which
fioats on the surface. This oil Is drawn
Off and preserved separately. The iiv-
ers thus partially exhausted are then
either secured in barrels for the pur-
pose of oil burning at home, or else,
| being left in the open wooden vessels,
suffer decomposition; the oil produced
becomes gradually darker, bubbles
| multiply, gaseous products are freely
| tiisengaged, accompanied with an ex-
ceedingly unpleasant, penetrating
smell, that may be perceived at grest
distance. The best livers and the
finest oil are taken from those fish that
have just arrived from the deep sea;
the cod Is then latest, and in best con-
dition; but by remaining in shallow
water, where the function of spawning
! is accomplished, where feeding is not
its object, and where little food is to be
| obtained, it becomes leaner and leaner,
until, on its return to the deep sea, 1t Is
quite emaciated.
Cod fishing at Lofoden terminates ON
| the 18th of April, according to ancient
| custom, even though the fishing may
| he productive, with a prospect of con-
tinuous good results. The reverence
| that the northern races have Tor the
| festival of Easter is the original cause
for this usage, together with the ardent
desire felt by every individual to pass
| the holidays following that religious
| anniversary, preceding as they do the
| Joyful spring time and much longed Tor
summer, in his own home.
On arriving at their several huts and
villages, the preparation OF the oil Is
proceeded with, and genera1iy COIL I'M
pleted by the end OF May. When the
barrels of liver remain at Lotoden, and
| still more during the journey after
wards; much of the cellular tissues be-
come lisintegrated. and the oil flows
out; so soon as the barrels are opened,
| the OIL Is car6IuLIS pOuEe0 Oh anu ASEs
apart, and this, together with that made
at Lofoden in the open wooden vessels,
| is the light yellow oil. The liyers hay
ing been partially exhausted are then
| thrown into iron kettles hung over an
open fire, the water contained by the
llivers being allowed to evaporate; the
| oil Is poured of as fast as 1t becomes
disengaged by he warmth, and 10 put
into barrels. This is brown oil. IN
creased heat above 2l2 Fair. Is now APP
| piled: the color deepens; as the temper
AZURE increases, the oil gradually
grows darker, till at last, when what
remains of the livers floats about as
hard dark Jumps in oil that is almost
black, the process Is considered TO be
finished, and the remaining product Is
| the dark tanners oil.
| In Sweden, Denmark, aud even In
Norway itself, as well as In other
places, there is prejudice In favor OF
the brown oil. It Is regarded by many
as superior in its remedial properties 70
the light yellow oil. But as the lgnt
yellow Is an exudation ata low temper
ature from the liver at its freshest pc,
Rod. and has certainly less flavor and
odor than any other kind, IL does not
appear that this preference is well
Fully sensible of the great natural
advantages possessed by the Lofoden
Islands, Mr.. Moller, of Christiania, has
been for many years DESTROYS OF intro
iducing into general use superior
method of preparing the oil. Manutac-
tories foIIoWing his suggestions are in
operation at Lofoden, Sondmores Chrls-
tiansund and Finmark. The process
he recommends may be thus described;
The lIyers are to be treated Immediate
~ On their arrival on shore, being less
than one day old. The selected Ones