[ 126
themfelves to the divine protecdion by
a prayer and hymn, which they call
vararfaungur, and then iland out to
fea. As foon as they are come to a
place where they expeff a good draught,
two o f them fit down at the helm, to
prevent the boat’s being moved out of
its place by the current, and to take
care that the fííliing-lines are not entangled.
In this manner they continue
fifliing the whole day ; and when the
boat will not contain any more fifli,
they cut off the heads o f all they have
caught, which they throw into the fea,
together with their entrails. This not
only enables them to carry a far greater
number o f fifli afliore, but alfo invites
many infecfls to take place, that are
good baits.
At their return, all the fifli are
brought aihore, and divided into
equal fliares : one iliare belongs to
the owner of the boat, though he
ihould not be out at fea witii them,
and this is called fdpleigaifkixip-lhsivc)';
another is given to him who fat at
the helm ; a third to him who governed
the fails; in a word, every fiflier-
man gets one fliare. But this equal divifion
I Ì2 7 ]
vifion is only made with the fmaller
fidi ; for i f any one in the boat is fo
fortunate as to catch a turbot or other
valuable fifli, it is Immediately cut into
pieces, and the three beft given to him
who caught it.
As foon as they have thus iliared
them, every one cuts off the heads o f
his fiih, draws them, and after cutting
them up from top to bottom on the
fide o f the belly, takes out the backbone
from that part where it is fixed to
the head, down to the third joint below
the heart. I f the weather be fuch
as to give them hopes o f drying their
fiih next day, they lay them with the
fleftiy fide facing one another ; but i f
the weather is unfavourable, they lay
the pieces on a heap with the ikinny
fide uppermoft, and this they call
/agga i kafe ; i f they lie too long in
this pofition, or one above another,
they fpoil, and are then fiild to tlie
merchants at a lower price, under the
denomination o f kafad fisk. When
the weather is fair, theie pieces are
fpread feparately on ftones, or on the
Ihore, and are frequently turned by
the
5 ' 11: :• Iiii.':-
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