fishery, now the most pursued, the taking of all other kinds of fish which nature produces near Iceland should be followed; in order to catch as great quantities as possible of all sorts of fish, and that the fish should be cured in such manner that it may not only be used for the support of the inhabitants, but likewise be disposeable as an article of commerce, we would have it taken into consideration in what manner the inhabitants of the country, in case of their exerting themselves in extending and improving the fisheries, more especially with respect to porpoises, seals, and salmon, and also to catching of herrings and flounders, may best be supplied and assisted with the necessary and proper implements; all according to circumstances, and to the statement expected from the magistracy; more especially when such institutions are made on a great scale, and may be productive of any considerable influence in commercial transactions.

General rules

for the quality

$ V.

The regulations concerning cerof the fish. tain descriptions of fish, which existed during the time of the company's

*

charter, can in future, and with regard to particular circumstances, be no longer applicable; but, in case of other, or more sorts of such goods being required by the traders, it must be laid on the basis of this ordnance, in its second chapter, §4, but nevertheless, and until other regulations shall be fixed among the concerned, those which have hitherto been in use, shall hereafter continue to be observed, and this for so much the greater reason as they are intended to specify the quality of the chief exports from Iceland. Fresh, or soft fish, such as may be considered good merchandize, should be delivered immediately after being taken out of the sea, and untainted; nor must there be any lean or skin-fish among it. The heads must be cut off, the entrails taken out, the fish properly split, in such a manner that the bone be taken out three joints below the navel, and the scales of the cole-fish must be scraped off. Such fish as can be used for dried fish, must be salted immediately on being caught, with the necessary quantity of French salt, or some other sort equally useful. It should be well cleansed, and afterwards properly cured, according to the

Newfoundland mode, in such a manner that it may obtain the proper appearance, and keep well. The neck, and every thing about the neck, must likewise be cut away, before it receives the last day's drying. The dried fish must be well worked and thoroughly dried, and not mouldy, rotten, slimy, or maggotty. The neck must be cut off when it is half dried, or at least before it is received and weighed. The fresh cod-roe must be delivered immediately on its being taken out of the fish, the breeches must be whole, and the roe of a red color, firm, and not spawning. The oil must be clear and clean, and leave no sediment.

Rules for land products, and

their most profitable use.

§ VI.

And likewise all such goods as are produced by farming and its different branches, which are sold by the Icelanders, must in general be clean, warrantable, and well worked; whereas, with regard to particulars, the directions contained in the second chapter, § 14, must be attended to. But, as such goods may partly be employed to much better advantage in trade than could hitherto be done, under

the influence of a chartered company, such of the inhabitants of the country, as are willing to apply themselves to better modes of cure, may expect to receive some or other suitable encouragement, according to circumstances; and more especially if the plans are of such extent, that they may produce a visible effect in the trade. The same will take place with respect to farming and agriculture, both in general, and also in particular, in so far as any one may put himself forward by considerable or importanț experiments in gardening, planting of woods, growth of corn, potatoes, and other herbs and roots, or by the proper cultivation of several kinds of Icelandic herbs, useful for food; all according to circumstances, and statement thereon to be made by the magistracy to our treasury, and also partly according to our resolutions hitherto passed on such matters.

§ VII.

Ordinance for

Concerning the catching of

the preserva- birds, and the use to be made

tion of the

eider-duck,

thereof, according to law, the same

usage shall continue as hitherto has been the

invariable custom. But no person whosoever, whether a stranger or an inhabitant of the country, shall be permitted to shoot eider-fowls, or destroy them with dogs or nets, under the penalty of three marks for every bird; and also every one that has been present at the time, and has not immediately reported the offence, shall forfeit half that sum of which penalty the informer shall receive two-thirds, and the poor of the parish the other one-third, after deducting the expences attending examining into the same, unless it be done on such person's own ground, and in such a manner that the neighbors cannot thereby suffer any loss or damage. But, on the contrary, should this be done on another ground-owner's land, who may have adopted any peculiar method for the preservation of the eider-ducks, either by making islets in the fresh-water lakes, or by building of nests for the reception of such birds, or any other thing of the like nature, he shall pay the damage according to law and, whoever shall be found guilty of having malevolently destroyed or injured such receptacles, shall be punished by a criminal fine. Neither shall the eggs be taken