Árbók Landsbókasafns Íslands - Nýr flokkur - 01.01.1983, Síða 64

64
BRÉF WILLARDS FISKES
the island at present? Do they belong to one owner? How much
eider-down is exported? Which is the more valuable to the island,
the birding or the fishing?
4. Does each farmstead (bær) own its boat? How many large boats
has the island? How are they owned? What kinds of fish do the
boats take? Are they out more than one day engaged in fishing?
Where is the fish generally sold? — At Húsavík, or Akureyri? What
is the general number of trips made to either of these places
yearly? Are the large boats only used for these trips? From which
port do most of the supplies for the island come? What is the
average time in winter and summer between the island and these
ports? Between the island and the nearest point of land? What is
that point and what is the exact distance? How many persons can
be carried in the larger boats? How many fishermen usually go out
in them? Can you tell me what diíference has been made in
supplying the island with fuel, food and so forth since the
beginning of steamer traífic? Also what change in the method of
disposing of the fish and birds? Is any wool, or woollen articles,
exported? Which is the best and surest post-office for the island,
Húsavík or Akureyri? Should one send the post by way of one of
these places in the summer and by way of the other in the winter?
What visitors has the island had, besides Dr. Thoroddsen, within
the last few years? Are any taxes paid by any of the inhabitants?
5. I should be glad of any notes on the social habits of the islanders.
Is there much intercourse between the families in the winter
evenings? Is the attendance at church in the winter very complete?
Are there two services in the winter? How is the vote of the
islanders cast for Althingsmenn? Is wrestling practised, and what
are the other athletic sports? Do you still regularly send
meteorological reports, and what do these include? When were
they first begun? Is there anything like a marine glass or small
telescope on the island? Have all the houses stoves or fire-places,
or any other method of heating, beside the cooking-range or
kitchen hearth? How many houses, and what ones have anything
like stoves? What are the lights used? Have fires, that is burning of
houses, ever occurred? How many foundations of abandoned
farmsteads exist? Where are the sites and what names do they
bear? What changes have taken place since you sent me the list of
inhabitants? Any births, deaths or marriages? How much coal is