The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1873-08-23
Cur @Ho.
Shark Fishing.


The Icelanders take no active part 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 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 a 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
nuicrocepatas. To the natives it is known
as the "nakaraln or "haykalen." It aver
ages from ten to twenty feet in length, and
lives on seals and fish, daring, in It's most
voracious moods, to attack the whale it.
self, but seldom molesting man unless dis
turbed by him. 1t is taken with compar-
ative ease, as, owing to its dimness Of
sight, caused probably by the isrncepoda
etongato, small parasite which adheres
to, and sometimes entirely covers its eye,
1t 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 30 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, 1t 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 four-pronged iron grapple,
weighing about 1SO pounds, with Is to 20
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 vessel
remains at the spot, and rides out the
storm, If necessary. The lines used arr
Of the thickness Of deep-sea log-lines, fas.
tened to three fathoms Of chain, in the
middle of which leaden weight Of 10 tc
13 pounds is fixed. Under this a strong
six-inch hook is fastened; the entire hool
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
spear A harpoon is then fixed in il
and the rope made fast to the ships side /;
after which the carcass is ripped up by q
knife, affixed to pole, and the liver is
taken out and placed in barrels, and stowed
away in the hold.
The value of carcass is about rs. Cd
The flesh is sold to peasants, who bury il
in the ground for two or three weeks, and
then disinter it, wash it, and cut il Ut
into strips and hang it in the drying house
After one years drying it is considered fit
for food The flesh has then assumed a
clear, reddish yellow color, which gives il
something the appearance Of salmon, so fal
as the eye is concerned, but certainly NOT
for the nose, for its appearance in a room
is very preceptible. How preceptible il
must be in the case Of ten year old shark
flesh, which we are further informed il
accounted delicacy among native con-
noisseurs, we must leave to the imagina-
ton and olfactory nerves Of our readers te
conjecture. The gall Of the shark Is used
instead of soup. The skin is also turned
to good account; after being stretched on
the ground and dried, it is used as shoe
leather, though it is not susceptible Of be.
ing polished. A shark of moderate size
yields two-thirds of barrel of oil (reckon.
ing barrel ut about 140 quarts which
is extracted by boiling the liver. A first
boiling gives the light train oil, second
the darker or common oil. Two barrels Of
liver give about two barrels Of oil, and, in
calm weather, one small open boat, If for
tunate, may secure about fifteen barrels Of
liver in couple of days, In Sweden and
Germany, where train oil is much used in
tanneries, il fetches from Sos. to Us. per
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 to
any British adventurers who may feel
disposed to try their fortune in this direc-
tion.--Nauticai Mdgazias