Lögberg-Heimskringla - 07.07.1989, Page 7

FÖSTUDAGUR 7. JÚLÍ 1989 7
News from Alberta
Icelandic Independence Day was
celebrated on June 18, 1989, at
Stephansson House, near Marker-
ville, Alberta, with a full afternoon of
activities and entertainment. For the
first time, this event was held in con-
junction with the annual Icelandic
picnic at Markerville.
Our Alberta Fjallkona, Mary
Stewart of Calgary, opened the after-
noon. The Saga Singers of Edmonton
entertained with songs in the Ice-
landic language. Helga Benediktsson
provided an insight into Icelandic
literature with saga tellings and
poetry readings.
As well as tours of Stephansson
House, those attending were able to
admire Icelandic horses on display,
and see crafts such as spinning and
candle making in action. An Icelan-
The Saga Singers entertain at Stephansson House Historic Site for Icelandic Independence Day. Left to
right: Lillian MacPherson, Finna Anderson, June Parker, Lucille Oddson, Leif Oddson, Solli Sigurdson,
A1 Arnason, Gloria Krenbrenk, Þorbjörg Ásgeirsdóttir, Shirley Sigurdson, Ninna Campbell, Shirley Thor-
valdson, Judy Jonsson.
da, and all the staff at Stephansson
House Historic Site for their organiza-
tion and enthusiasm.
— Submitted by: Gloria Krenbrenk
dic baking contest and childrens' ac-
tivities rounded out an enjoyable sun-
ny summer afternoon.
Thanks go to Janice Stomp, Rhon-
Fishing as depicted on stamps
Minnist
BETEL
í erfðaskrám yðar
Continued from Page 6
ciation (Slysavarnarfélag íslands) in
1978. The design shows the rescue of
the men of the British trawler,
Dhoon, which went down off the
west coast in 1947.
Haddock and cod were those spe-
cies of fish most often caught off
Iceland. The latter was in particular
demand and appears on 5 stamps is-
sued by the Icelandic postal authori-
ties between the years 1939 and
1945. Herring fishing began in Ice-
land approximately 100 years ago
and provided an important source of
employment during the first part of
this century. However, owing to
over-exploitation, the herring catch
has diminished considerably over the
past few decades. The herring ap-
pears on six stamps issued between
1939 and 1945: A 3 aurar, a 7 aurar,
a 10 aurar (green and grey), a 12
aurar and a 35 aurar. A loaded her-
ring boat is also depicted on two
stamps from 1963, a 5 kr. and a 7.50
kr., both of which were issued to
commemorate the fight for a freedom
from hunger, a theme taken up by
many other countries in the stamp is-
sues of that year.
One beautiful stamp (5000 aurar)
which came out in 1981 shows a
painting of seamen pulling in a line
while out at sea.
In 1983, two new stamps dedicat-
ed to the fishing industry were is-
sued. One (the 11 kr. stamp) carries
a design of a modern trawler sailing
off the coast, while the other (the 13
kr.) shows men catching fish in a
line-boat.
Earlier this century, Icelanders be-
gan researching fish movements in
the waters around Iceland, a practice
that has been much on the increase
in recent years. It wasn't long before
a special building was raised to house
the research laboratories of the fish-
ing industry. This particular building
is depicted on a 4 kr. stamp from
1962.
In 1971, the Post and Telecommu-
nications Administration issued a ser-
ies of three stamps designed to reflect
the importance of the fishing indus-
try for the Icelandic national econo-
my. The 5 kr. stamp carries a design
of a haddock and work in a freezing
plant. On the 7 kr. stamp are a cod,
and a picture of work on board a
trawler. The 20 kr. stamp shows
shrimps and people working with
them; indeed, fishing for shrimps,
shellfish and other varieties of sea
creature has been much on the in-
crease in recent years.
Several other kinds of sea creature
have also appeared on Icelandic
stamps. On a 160 kr. stamp issued in
1980 there is a picture of an Ocean
Perch. This was followed up in 1985
by a series of three stamps, a 700, 800
and 900 aurar, carrying pictures of a
Squid, a Crab, and a Sea Anenome.
For many years, the Icelanders
were unable to defend their bounti-
ful fishing grounds against the en-
croachment of the other fishing
nations. However, in the middle of
this century, the final chapter in their
fight to protect not only these fishing
grounds, but also the entire Icelandic
continental shelf began. In 1972,
Iceland extended its fishing limits to
50 miles, the intention being to later
extend this even further up to 200
miles in order to make sure that the
continental shelf also came under
Icelandic jurisdiction. This final step
eventually took place in 1976, and
now Iceland has total control of all
of its own fishing grounds. In the
same year that the fishing limits were
extended to 50 miles, the Post and
Telecommunications Administration
issued a special 9 kr. stamp on which
Iceland is depicted surrounded by
the continental shelf.
The above is merely a short histo-
ry of Icelandic fishing as it is shown
on those stamps that have been is-
sued by the Post and Telecommuni-
cations Administration in recognition
of this all important branch of the
Icelandic economy which, through-
out the ages, has been the foundation
of the work and culture of the Icelan-
dic people.
Jón Aðalsteinn Jónsson, a regular
contributor to MODERNICELAND,
is Editor-in-Chief of the Icelandic
Dictionary at the University of
Iceland, author of the book "One
Hundred Years of Icelandic Stamps
1873-1973" and a member of the
American Philatelic Society.
— Courtesy of Modern Iceland
Working To Keep Our Heritage
CANADA ICELAND
FOUNDATION
SECRETARY: PH. 1-204-453-3022
Mrs. S. Borga Jakobson
205 Montrose St.
Winnipeg, Manitoba R3M 3L9
MESSUBOÐ
Fyrsta Lúterska
Kirkja
Pastor Ingthor I. Isfeld
10:30 a.m. The Service followed by
Sunday School & Coffee hour.
First Lutheran Church
580 Victor St., Winnipeg MB
R3G 1R2 Ph. 772-7444

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