Drammensfjorden anno 1800
Malt av John William Edy
No. XLVI. DRAM BAY. This view, was taken on board a ship lying at anchor in the Christiania Fiord, opposite, and looking directly into Dram Bay. The rocks on the left are the termination of the Jarlsberg district; those on the right, are the extreme points of a vast range of mountains, covered with forests, extending on one side to Dram and on the other to Christiania. The large islands in front, near the shores of Holmstrand, are Lovesoe, Langoe, Bornoe. They are inhabited by a few families, who principally occupy themselves in fishing, and piloting ships. The extensive range of mountains which forms the back ground, is mentioned in the account of Holmstrand, the wind-mill of which town appears under it, on the left hand. The prospect from on ship board, when sailing in fine weather, up this Fiord to Dram, meandering between the main land, and its numerous islands, is extremely pleasing and picturesque; the many vessels, and numerous fishermen, employedin their daily avocations, passing and repassing, enrich and enliven the scene. This Fiord and the Dram river, are a favourite resort for salmon, considerable numbers of which are annually taken, particularly at their leaps, Almost every other species of fish, either inhabiting or periodically frequenting the waters of the Norwegian coasts, may be found here. The boats introduced, are specimens of those used : in one of them a boy is drawing up a singular fish, remarkable for its cameleon-like beauty, and the variety of its changeable colouring. The old man is fishing for groundfish, according to the mode practised in Norway, which is as follows. A line wound round the hand, descends over the fore finger, perpendicularly to the bottom of the sea, having affixed to it the trap, or bait and hook. The continuance of this dangerous custom is much to be lamented, as the unfortunate men employed almost invariably exhibit a mutilated hand. This misfortune is the usual result, if a large and more powerful fish than was expected, after greedily devouring the bait and hook, endeavours by a sudden and violent effort to disengage itself; the shock is instantly felt above, and before the line can be disengaged from the hand, the person is pulled into the sea, or loses one or more fingers, and the fish escapes. About one hundred and fifty ships annually sail round the rocks on the right, up to Dram, where they receive goods brought from Kongsberg, Hassel, and the environs, in great quantity and variety. The produce of the silver mines at Kongsberg is coined into specie dollars on the spot, and forwarded monthly, by land, through Sweden, to Copenhagen. Near Fossum is the famous cobalt mine, and at Hassel is one of quartz, where they make the Prussian blue. There also is a considerable iron-work. These commodities, together with the produce of the marble quarries on Mount Paradise, and of the forests, to the amount of 335,000 deals, contribute to the lading of the 150 ships from Dram. The mountains in this district being of great elevation, are, during a long period of the year, covered with snow, and in many of their hollows on the northern sides, this covering may be called eternal. The neighbouring forests are infested with wolves and bears, to the great annoyance of the peasantry, who being excellent marksmen, derive some remuneration from their skins. These, if good, will fetch £2 a piece on the spot; considerable numbers are exported, many of them 14 feet in length, with long hair of the first quality.