mon, which had previously gone up the
stream, were thus, in various places, prevented
from returning. In such, therefore,
of the pools as still retained their water, the
inhabitants had an excellent supply, these
serving as complete stock-ponds to the
neighborhood. I purposely denominate this
fish, salmon, although I am aware that in
the district of Skaptefield it is called trout,
which appellation is likewise given to it by
Mr. Holm. I have never had an opportunity
of seeing it myself, but, according to
all the descriptions I have received of it, it
could be nothing else than salmon : indeed,
the weight alone of the fish affords a sufficient
proof of what they are ; the general
average being from fifteen to thirty pounds,
and the largest rising to at least ten pounds
more. All the endeavors I could use to
obtain farther information respecting this
fish, by enquiries among the inhabitants,
enabled me to collect nothing more than
that it is the same kind as that which is
usually caught in the white creeks, near
Skalholt, and in the Borgefiord, as well as
at Grimsaa, and in various other places.
I t has long been considered as a decided
matter that no salmon are to be found in the
eastern part of Iceland, and I am inclined
to think that it is solely for this reason, that
the fish caught in the district of W est Skaptefield
have hitherto passed under the name
of trout.
Exclusively of the damage and loss occasioned
to the fisheries by the fire, this
calamity has likewise driven from the
country various kinds of birds, that used
to build their nests th e re ; among which
the principal are the swans. The inhabitants
were well acquainted with the time
that these birds cast their feathers, which
was in the month of August, when the people
used to climb the rocks and take a great
number of them: but the sulphureous smoke
and stench effectually banished them all;
and the few eggs, that were found in the
deserted nests, were so thoroughly impregnated
by the smoke, as to be unfit for
eating.
§ XXXI.
influence of th e What influence the volcanic
t!uion.pon ve£e eruption has had on the growth