File:Rock near Krageröe (JW Edy plate 28).jpg

This rock is in the island which is seen immediately over the church in the view of Krageröe opposite the town. Its front faces the sea in a recess much resorted to by seals and birds of prey. Off this part of the coast the sea abounds with a great variety of excellent fish, and especially a very superior kind of mackarel, which takes its name from the Virgin's Isle. During the season this fish was formerly, not much to the honour of the Norwegians, caught by Swedish fishermen, who came in hundreds of boats, and supplied the towns of Krageröe, Riisoer, Langesund, Larvig, and other places.

Still the fisheries of Norway, previous to the war with England, came next in succession to the mines and woods, as a source of national wealth. The fisheries on the ocean produced enormous quantities of cod-fish of various kind, which was prepared in different ways for home consumption or exportation, chiefly to the Catholic countries of Europe. The liver of the cod was boiled into train-oil, and the spawn salted down. The latter was sent to France, being used there as a bait for a fish called sardines. Immense swarms of herrings, coming from the northward and, it would appear, from the Frozen Ocean, and being constantly pursued by whales, seals and other fishes of prey, were caught off the coasts of Norway. Great quantities of this fish were pickled with Spanish salt, and packed in tight barrels of fir for exportation. At present the consumption of herrings, as well as of cod-fish, is limited to the home-market. Fresh herrings are much used, and when dried or smoked, are sent off in large quantities to the upland, and the mines. A smaller kind of herring, named anchovy, is likewise caught in great abundance, and readily disposed of. Train-oil may be extracted from the head and entrails of the herrings, by which process Sweden has already gained, and Norway may obtain great advantages.

Of the fisheries in fresh water, that of salmon is most important. The largest and best salmon are caught in the river of Mandal, as has already been stated.

The coasts of Norway abound in lobsters, of which great quantities were, prior to the war, exported to England in Norwegian vessels, or sold at home to the English, who came to fetch them.

Oysters are found on the western coast of Norway.

According to Mr. Thaarup, the exportations of fish from Norway might be stated in the year 1790, as under :

Rix-dollars.

From Bergen, value, 958000

Christiansund, 78000

Tronhiem, 75000

Molde, 22000

Stavanger, 10000

Finmark, 40000

South of Norway, 20000

Sum total, 1203000 Rix-dollars,

or at that time upwards of £220,000.

That this amount may have been much larger, and that it was greatly augmented in common with the proceeds of every other branch of Danish traffic, can scarcely admit of a doubt, but to what extent it is impossible to say.