The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1873-08-23
Our 0ln.
Shark Fishing.

The Icelanders take no active part ia
the whale fishery, but devote themselves
as a rule to that of shark and cod. They
fish principally from light, open boats,
with projecting prows, and carrying only
one small lug-sail. Row boats are prefer
red, on account of the number of hands
required. The Icelandic fishermen are
described as possessing power of endur-
ance, an ability to keep the sea in all
weathers, and courage above all praise
they scorn to take provisions Of any kind
to sea, though they never neglect to carry
their snuff horns 1t is greatly to be de-
plored that these hardy mariners are so
careless, both as to their personal comfort
and as to the seaworthiness of their craft,
since to these faults may doubtless be
traced the fact that forty per cent. Of the
deaths of the men are caused by drowning.
The shark, which is indigenous to the Ice
landic and Norwegian coasts, though sell
dom taken in the Cattegat, is the Smynus
nsicrocepaius. To the natives it is known
as the "nakaral' or "haykalen. 1t aver
ages from ten to twenty feet in length, and
lives on seals and fish, daring, in its most
voracious moods, to attack the whale it.
self, but seldom molesting man unless dis
turbed by him. 1t is taken with compar-
alive ease, as, owing to its dimness of
sight, caused probably by the iprncepoda
etongato, small parasite which adheres
to, and sometimes entirely covers its eye,
it seizes the bait-young seal blubber or
smoked horse flesh soaked in blood, to
which it is evidently attracted by the sense
Of smell-without attempting to escape the
weapons of its captors
The shark is caught near land during
the month of April; bat, during the sum
mer months, it is found in as much as 200
fathoms Of water, from 80 to 100 miles
from land, and generally off the Western
side of the island. OF late years the craft
used on the North side of the island are
decked vessels of 35 to 40 tons, provided
with bars, and so lightly constructed that
in calm weather they can easily get clear
Of the ice, and move from place to place
When vessel is in search Of sharks it is
anchored at place where they are pre-.
sumed to be-in preference, near the ris-
ing edge of bank. The anchor used is
generally a four-pronged iron grapple
weighing about lSO pounds with Is to %
fathoms GIG chain cable, and $50 faith
ON long hawser. When anchored, the
fishing commences If nothing is caught
the position is shifted until the shark is
found; and, if the take is good, the yesse
remains at the spot, and rides out the
storm, if necessary. The lines used ar,
of the thickness Of deep-sea log-lines, fas
tened to three fathoms of chain, in tn,
middle of which leaden weight of 10 Il
IL pounds is fixed. Under this stronl
six-inch hook is fastened; the entire hooi
is covered with bait, and it is notched in
side the bend to prevent the latter from
slipping down. When the shark is hauled
up to the surface, it is killed by means Of
a spear. A harpoon is then fixed in it
and the rope made fast to the ships side
after which the carcass is ripped up by
knife, affixed to pole, and the liver i.
taken out and placed in barrels, and stowec
away in the hold.
The value of carcass is about Is. Cd
The flesh is sold to peasants, who bury
in the ground for two or three weeks, ant
then disinter it, wash it, and cut it VI
into strips and hang it in the drying house
After one years drying it is considered 6
for food. The flesh has then assumed
clear, reddish yellow color, which gives i
something the appearance of salmon, so ia
as the eye is concerned, but certainly no
for the nose, for its appearance in room
is very preceptible. How preceptible i
must be in the case of ten year old sharl
flesh, which we are further informed i
accounted delicacy among native con
noisseurs, we must leave to the imagina
ton and olfactory nerves Of our readers {,
conjecture, The gall of the shark is uset
instead of soup. The skin is also turned
to good account; after being stretched oil
the ground and dried, it is used as sho,
leather, though it is not susceptible of be
ing polished. A shark of moderate siz,
yields two-thirds Of a barrel of oil (reekon
ing barrel at about 140 quarts which
is extracted by boiling the liver. A firsi
boiling gives the light train oil, secont
the darker or common oil. Two barrels o
liver give about two barrels of oil, and, il
calm weather, one small open boat, if for
tunate, may secure about fifteen barrels o
liver in couple of days. In Sweden ant
Germany, where train oil is much used il
tanneries, it fetches from SOS. to Us. pc
barrel. The Norwegians, it would appear
are the only foreigners who have engaged
in the Icelandic shark fishery, and Mr.
Grove holds out much encouragement t.
any British adventures who may fee
disposed to try their fortune in this direc
tion,-Nauticdi Magazine,