The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1873-08-18
Shark Fishing.


The Occupation OF the lueIRndsrs -
Curing sharks Meat.
The Icelnnders take no active part in
the whale fishery, but devote them.
selves as rule to that OF shark and cod.
They fish principally from light, open
boats, with projecting prows, and car
rying only one small lug.sRil. Row
boats are preferred, on account Of the
number OF hands required. The Ice
lnndic fishermen are described us pos
sGssing n power Of endurance, 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. II is greatly to be
deplored that these hardy mariners are
so careless, both rs to their personal
comfort and us 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 nre
caused by drowning. The shark, which
is indigenous to the Icelandic and Nor
weigian coasts, though seldom taken in
the Cattegat, is the SymnuS micro.
cepalus. To the natives it is known rs
the nakaral" or "haykalen." 1t
averages from ten to twenty feet in
length, and lives on seals and fish, dar.
ing, in its most yoracious moods, to
attack the whale itself, but seldom
molestiHg man unless disturbed by
him. 1t is taken with comparative ease,
MS, owing to its dimness OF sight, caused
probably by the Lerncep0da 6i0ngato,
small parasite which adheres to, and
sometimes entirely covers its eye, it
Seizes the bait-y0ung seal blubber or
smoked horse flesh soaked in blood, to
which it is evidently attracted by the
sense OF smell-withOut attempting TO
escape tho weapons Of its captors.
She shark is caught near land during
the month OF April; but, during the
summer months, il is found in ls much
rs 200 fathoms OF water, from 80 to 1853
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 arc decked vessels Of SO to
40 tons, provided with bars, and so
lightly constructed that in calm weather
they can easily get clear Of the ice, aud
move from place 10 place. When a
vessel is in search OF sharks, it is
anchored ut place where they are
presumed to be-in preference, near
the rising edge of bank. The anchor
used is generally fOur.prongsd iron
grapple, weighing about $50 pounds,
with 10 to 90 lathOms 9.16 chain cable,
and $50 Gathom long hawser. When
anchored, the fishing commences. II
nothing Is caught, the POSITIONS shifted
until the shark is found and, il the
take is good, TIE vessel remains Mt the
spot, and rides out the storm, il neces.
sary. The lines used are OF the thick
ness OF deep.sea log.lines, fastened to
three fathoms OF chain, in the middle
of which leaden weight Of 10 TO -
pounds is fixed. Under this n strong
six.inch hook is fastened the entire
hook is covered with bait, and 1t is
notched inside the bend TO prevent
the latter from slippingdown. - When
the shark is hauled up to the surface, it
is killed by means OF q spear. A har.
pooh is then fixed in it, and the rope
made fast to the ships side after
which the carcass is ripped mp by a
knife, affixed to pole, and the liver is
taken out and placed in barrels, and
slowed away in the hold.
The value OF carcass is about rs. Cd.
The flesh is sold to peasants, who bury
it in the ground for two or three weeks,
and then disenter it, wash it, and cut it
up into strips and hang 1t in the drying
house. After one years drying 1t is
considered fit for food. The flesh has
then assumed q clear, reddish yellow
color, which gives II something the
appearance OF salmon, so far MS the eye
is concerned, but certainly not for the
nose, for its appearance in n room is
very preceptible. How precepible It
must be in the case OF ten year old
shark flesh, which we nre further in.
formed is accounted n delicacy among
native connoisseurs, we must leave to
the Imagination and olinctory nerves of
our readers to 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 rs shoe leather,
though it is not susceptible Of being
polished. A shark OF moderate size
Yields two.thirds Of n barrel Of oil
(reckoning barrel at about 40 quarts,
which is extracted by boiling the liver.
A first boiling gives the light train oil
n second the darker or common oil.
The barrels Of liver give about two
barrels OF oil, and, in calm weather,
one small open boat, il fortunate, may
secure about fifteen barrels Of liver in n
couple Of days. In Sweden and Ger.
many, where train oil is much used
in tanneries, It ietches from 55s. to l2s.
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 adven-
turers who may feel disposed to try
their fortunein this direction. --Nauticai
Magazine.