National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1873-01-03
Shark-Fishing in Iceland.

The Icelanders," says the Nationo
Magazine, take no active part.iin tn
whale fishery, but devote themselves
as a rule, to that of shark and cod
They fish principally from light ope
boats, with projecting prows, and carry
ing only one small lug-sail. Row-boat
are preferred on account of the humble
of hands required. The Icelandic fish
ermen are described rs possessing
power of endurance, an ability to keel
the sea in all weathers, and a courag,
above all praise; they scorn to tax,
provisions of any kind to sea, though
they never neglect to carry their snuff
horns. 1t is greatly to be deplored thai
these hardy mariners are SO careless.
both as to their personal comforts anG
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 four
pronged iron grapple, weighing about
$50 pounds, with fifteen to twenty faith
onls nine-sixteen inch iron chain cable,
and Ofathom 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 headlines, fastened to
three fathoms of chain, in the middle of
which leaden weight of ten pounds to
thirteen pounds is fixed. Under this a
strong six-inch hook is fastened the
entire hook is covered with bait, and it
is notched inside the bend to prevent
the latter slipping down. When the
shark is hauled up to the surface it is
killed by means of a long spear. A har-
poon is then fixed in it, and the rope
fastened to the ships side after which
the earcase is ripped up by knife af-
fixed to pole, and the liver is taken
out and placed in barrels, and slowed
away in the hold. The value of car
case Is about Is. Cd. The flesh is sold
to the peasants, who bury it in the
ground for two or three weeks, and then
disinter 1t, wash it, and cut it up into
strips, and hang it in the drying house.
After one years drying, it is considered
tit for food. The flesh has then assum-
ed clear, reddish-yellow color, which
gives it something of the appearance of
salmon, so far as the eye is concerned.
but certainly not the nose, for its pres.
ence in room is very perceptible.
How perceptible it must be in case of |
.en-year old shark flesh, which we are |
urther informed is accounted delicacy
'mong native connoisseurs, we must |
cave to the imagination and olfactory |
nerves of our readers to conjecture
The gall of the shark is used instead of |
'oap. The skin is also turned to good
lccount after being stretched on the
'round and dried, it is used as shoe
Gather, though it is not susceptible of
POLISH. A shark of moderate size Yields
of barrel of oil, (reckoninp
barrel at about 14O quarts which is
xtracted by boiling the liver. A first
'oiling gives the light train-oil; a sec
nd, the darker or common oil. Three
'arrels of liver give about two barrels
4 OIL, and, in calm weather, one small
pen boat, if fortunate, may secure about
fteen barrels of liver in n couple of
avs. In Sweden and Germany, where
ne train-oil is much used in tanneries.
fetches from So shillings to 125 shil-
ngs per barrel.