The Hawaiian gazette., 1873-01-15

uinle fsta-r. bui devote themselves as rule TO
.t-- q .l,s zil--k and cod. They fsE principally
z--- r-4- 1-- b1z,s with projecting proWs,
s-----u- 1-lr one small lug-sail. ROE-bOats
.-. --aT.--e5 on accouui Of the number Of hands
- The Isela15ic fishermen are described
-.-.z--sr- p5Fer Of endurance, an ability
.- - -s sl1 10 al Weaihers, and courage
.t.--. al ---iss. They so0rH 70 take provisions
- - 10 sHa. though they never neglect TO
----- -i.ar s-.uE-ho-ns- il Is greatly to be de-
@ ttzt tisss hardy mariners are so careless
t.frst t1 tbsr personal comfort and the unsea-
--.tsnsss l thei- craft since 10 these faults
-r 61utrsss be traced The fact that 40 per
re-t 1- he deaihs Of The men are caused by
5Hnzr-
TIE saa-k. which Is indigenous 10 the Icelandic
zr N1-re-laH c1asts, though seldom taken in
.fe Caue-a1- Is the .Sey7aRsls n1icrooephalus
Do sts uai5Tes- Il IS known as the nakaral or
izrkals1-= u averages from ten to twenty
Iss1 1 length. and lives on seals and fish, daring
OBJ ils more v0raci0us moods 10 attack the whale
i.ssE bui seldom molestng man unless disturbed
tF hln- Ii l. taken with comparative ease. as,
OEilr 10 rs dimness Of sight, caused probably
ty The LEng D13a ei0Hg1,a small parasite
which Hdheres 70, and sometimes entirely covers
lis ere, Il seizes the bait-young seal bubber, or
smoked ho-se-desh soaked in blood, to which it
is evidently attracted by the sense OF smell
without aitemTIur 10 escape the weapons Of its
uuTturs. The shark Is caught near land during
The mouth Of ATril but during the summer
months L Is found 10 as much as 200 fathoms Of
waisr. and generally Of the western side Of the
island 90 late years the crah used on the north
side or The island are decked vessels Of 35 or 40
tons. provided with oars. and so lightly con-
strucied That il calm weather they can easily get
clear O. the ice. and move from place to place.
When q ressel Is in search Of sharks, it Is an
ch07e5 Il place where they are presumed 10 be
-in preference near the rising edge Of bank.
The anchor used is generally q four-pronged iron
r-aFrie weighing about lSO pounds, with Is TO
~ iaiboms 9-I6 inch chain cable, aud $50
iaihon hawss- When anchored, the fishing
c1zmences ID nothing is caught, the position
is SHIFTED until the shark is found and if the
take is -7o5, The vessel remains at the spot, and
ri5ss out q storm II necessary.
The lines used are Of the thickness Of deep
sea lo--.ines. fastened 70 three fsthoms Of chain,
iu The z-ii5le Of which leaden weight Of 10 to
y pounds is fixed. Under this a strong 6-inch
hook is Eastened. The entire hook Is covered
with 6aii- and il is notched inside the bend to
prevent iie latter slipping down. When
The shark is hauled up 10 the surface il is killed
b. means OF a spear. a harpoon is then fixed,
7- j.. and ibe rope made fast to the ships side
after Hhirh the carcass is ripped up by knife
fixed 10 pole aud the liver Is taken out, placed
~ i1-rels. and slowed away in the hold. The
ralue u . carcass on shore Is about IS. Cd. The
fesh is sold 10 The peasants, who bury it in the
ground Tor Two or three weeks, and then disnter
81 wash il, and cut It into strips, and hang it in
the drying house. After one years drying, it is
considered 81 for food The flesh has then as
Esme3 clear reddish yellow color, which gives
il something The appearance Of salmon, so far as
the ere Is concerned, but certainly such is not
the case Eth the nose, for its presence In a room
Is very percepti5le. How perceptible it must be
In the case Of ten year old shark flesh, which we
are further informed Is accounted delicacy
among native c0unoisseurs, we must leave TO the /
Imagination and ollactory nerves Of our readers to
conjecture. The gall Of the shark is used instead
of soap. The skin Is also turned to good ac- /
oouui= after being stretched on the ground and |
dried, il s used as shoe leather, though il is not
susceptible Of being polished, a shark Of mod 1
crate size yields two-thirds Of barrel Of OIL
reckoning barrel al about 40 quarts,) which
is eEtracsed ty boiling the liver A first boiling
gives the light train oil second, the darker or
common oil Three barrels Of liver give about /
fuo barrels Of OIL and IN calm weather one small I
open boat. if fortunate, may secure about fifteen
barrels Of liver IA a couple Of days. In Sweden /
and Germany, where tram oil is much used in tan
neries Il ieiches from sos. TO 1855 per barrel /
The N0rwegiaus- II would appear, are the only .
foreigners who have engaged in The Icelandic
shark fishery. and Mr.. Grove holds out much en-
cou-remsni 10 any British adrentuTers who may
fsei disposed 70 Try their fortunes in this direc-
tion.-Na,aia1' Magazine