carried on in the west fjord, off the east coast of the Lofodens. The depth of water can be sounded at a distance of 14 miles from the islands, where it varies from 200 to 300 fathoms. The fishing" banks," or terraces, as they are called, are nearer the islands. These banks are in reality three terraces or ledges, which are perpendicular, and have no gradual slope: the first lies. at a depth of 20 or 30 fathoms, when it drops suddenly to the second, which is at a depth of about 40 or 50 fathoms. The third bank drops again suddenly, and without any slope, at a depth of about 120 fathoms. South of these natural ledges there is no depth at 300 fathoms. The cod resort to these banks to spawn, and because there they are protected from the winds and waves. When the fish are caught, they are salted or dried, and become the stock-fish of commerce. They are then conveyed in jagts, or smacks, to Bodö, Trondhjem, Christiansund, Bergen, and Stavanger, for export to other countries.

The cod-fishery begins in February, and ends in April. Carried on, as it is, during such an inclement season of the year, it is very laborious, and entails great hardships. Between fifteen and sixteen thousand men are engaged in the fishing, the produce of which varies from fifteen to eighteen millions of fish, besides 20,000 barrels of cod-liver oil, and 6000 barrels of cod's roe. The people along the whole of the west coast of Norway depend on the cod-fishery for their livelihood. The trade is one of barter; the merchant receives his stipulated amount of fish from the fishermen, and pays in

kind. The latter are often deeply in debt to the former; that is, they receive their payments in goods in advance, and are often unable to repay in fish. This is a pernicious system; it prevents thrifty habits of saving money, with attendant evils, among the fishermen.

THE MAHLSTRÖM.

This celebrated whirlpool or current has been much exaggerated in some of the published accounts. The stories of ships and whales having been sucked in by it are simply fabulous. It is situated between the south of Moskenö and Loppod point. The swiftness of the current depends entirely on the wind and state of the weather and tide. With a stormy west wind, the current runs occasionally constantly to the eastward both with the ebb and flood. If the sea then rises, the velocity of the current increases, and the sound becomes unnavigable. During winter storms, and even when a strong gale is blowing in summer, it is not safe to go through the channel, but with a fair wind, and in fine weather, there is no danger. There is, however, at no time a vortex, although ships caught in the current may be drifted on to the rocks, and lost, with all hands. To avoid the most dangerous part, it is necessary to keep towards the Loppod point. So little is thought of the Mahlström by the hardy mariners of those parts, who are acquainted with it, that the frail barks of the country pass and repass at all states of the tide, except under the circumstances previously described. Small boats actually fish in the centre of the channel. Far

F

from drawing in great whales, the fish like and sport about in the current, and experienced fishermen, knowing this, lay down their lines there; for it is certain that all kinds of fish, whether in fresh or salt water, prefer localities where there are eddies or currents.

CHAPTER VII.

Fish and Fishing in Norway-The principal Salmon-rivers, and how to get to them-Hints to Anglers in Norway-Routes for Travellers.

LTHOUGH the English sportsman who visits Norway for the purpose of bear or reindeer hunting may perhaps have to return home disappointed with his luck, such is not likely to be the case if he come for the sake of salmon-fishing. This may be called, par excellence, the national sport of Norway. Its numer

ous and large rivers abound with fine salmon ; large sea-trout are to be caught at the mouths of several rivers which run into the sea or fjords; and delicious salmon-trout may be purchased, in season, at any market-town; trout are plentiful in nearly all the rivers and lakes of Norway. The falls of many of the larger rivers interfere, of course, with the fishing; but notwithstanding this drawback, there are plenty of fish to be had for all comers.

The rivers of Norway are much swollen in the early summer by the melting of the snow on the fjelds, and

it behoves the English angler, therefore, not to start too early in the year on a piscatorial excursion.

The sea-coast of Norway abounds with fish. The herring-fishery takes place on the west coast, about Stavanger and other places, in the early spring and in autumn. Fresh herrings may be purchased in the towns at a very low rate. The herrings generally run small, owing, no doubt, to the fact that Norwegian fishermen are not restricted by law, as the Englishmen are, to the use of nets with narrow meshes.

The Norwegians are great epicures as regards saltwater fish, which must be brought to their doors alive, otherwise they will not purchase. The small cod-fish only are eaten at a Norwegian gentleman's table, and the larger fish are considered only fit for poor people. "There is an art in the roasting of eggs," and certainly nothing can be more delicious than young fresh cod, purchased at one's door in a Norwegian town, and boiled à la mode Norvegienne. Soles are seldom seen off the Norwegian coast, and we never saw more than a single pair of that popular English fish in the Christiania fish-market. On inquiring their price of the old woman to whom they belonged, her answer was"Oh! take them away for nothing if you like, they are nasty sea-devils!" Although the sole is not common here, the common flat fish is abundant and very cheap. The whiting and mackerel are also very common and cheap; the latter especially so, as it is only eaten by poor people, from the popular belief that it preys on the bodies of those who have been drowned at sea. Some