Connecticut western news., 1873-01-10
Shark.Fishing in Iceland.

"The Icelanders, says the National Mog0si'ae, take no aotives sparti in the whale fishery, but devote themselves, as rule, to that of shark and cod. They fish principally from light open boats, with projecting prows, and carry ing only one small lug-sail. Row-boats are preferred on account of the number of hands required. The Icelandic fish ermen are described as possessing a power of endurance, an ability to keep the sea in all weathers, and a courage above all praise they scorn to take provisions of any kind to sea, though they never neglect to carry their snuff horns. It is greatly to be deplored that these hardy mariners are so careless both as to their personal comforts 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. When vessel is in search of sharks, it Is anchored at a place where they are presumed to be--in pre- ference, near the rising edge of bank. The anchor used is generally 8 four pronged iron grapple, weighing about 1SO pounds, with fifteen to twenty faith oms nine-sixteen inch iron chain cable, and a 35OIfathom long hawser. When anchored, the fishing commences. If nothing is caught, the position is shift ed until the shark is found ; and if the ! take is good, the vessel remains at the post, and rides out the storm if neces- sary. The lines used are of the thick ness of deep-sea lead-lines, fastened to three fathoms of chain, in the middle of which a .leaden wea ght of ten pounds to thirteen pounds is fixed. Under this a strong six-inch hook is fastened the entme hook is covered with bait, and ii is notched inside the bend to prevent the latter slipping down. When the shark is hauled up to the surface 1t is killed by means of long spear. A har- pooR is then fixed in it, and the rope fastened to the ships side after which the carcase is ripped up by a knife af, fixed to pole, and the liver is taken out and placed in barrels, and slowed away in the hold. The value of a car case is about Is. Sd. The flesh is sold to the peasants, who bury it in the ground for two or three weeks, and ther disinter it, wash it, and cut it up into strips, and hang it in the drying-house After one years drying, it is considered fit for food. The flesh has then assum ed clear, reddish-yellow color, whicl gives it something of the appearance O. salmon, so far as the eye is concerned but certainly not the nose, for it's pres ence in 8 room is very perceptible How perceptible it must be in case Q ten-year old shark flesh, which we ar' further informed is accounted delicac, among native connoisseurs, we mus leave to the imagination and olfactor. nerves of our readers to conjecture The gall of the shark is used instead o soap. The skin is also turned to goot account after being stretched on tn
 ground and dried, it is used as sho leather, though it is not susceptible o polish. A shark of moderate size yield two-thEds of barrel of oil, (reckonin' barrel at about 40 quarts, which i extracted by boiling the liver. A frs boiling gives the light train-oil sec ond, the darker or common oil. Thre barrels of liver give about tive barrel ', of oil, and, in calm weather, one smal open boat, if fortunate, may secure abou fifteen barrels of liver in a couple c days. In Sweden and Germany, wher the train-oil is much used in tanneries it fetches from 55 shillings to 125 shil lings per barrel.