Jökull - 01.12.1967, Page 49

son’s account of his travels is quite noteworthy
anci l'ollowing are some extracts from his ac-
count: “They (i.e. Fiskivötn) draw their name
from the great trout fishing, which in former
times was pursued there in the autumn and
late winter. But now that good custom — as so
many useful things — has been abandonned.
Now people go there only occasionally to hunt
young and grown up swans and collect their
big beam-feathers. It is a great loss that the
fishing in Fiskivötn has been totally forsaken
since the hard years of 1783—85 ancl that the
lew, who formerly were used to the catching
and knew the method, the fishing grounds et
cet. are on the brink of the grave.” In his diary,
1793, Pálsson describes the district Skaftártunga
therein including a description of Fiskivötn.
He says: — “In times past extensive trout fish-
ing was pursued in this rural district (Skaftár-
tunga) in the autumn, especially at Fiskivötn,
which are situated a day’s journey from here
to the north and north-west, but this livelihood
was partially given up after 1740 and totally in
the last volcanic eruption (The Laki in 1783).”
The above quotations vividly portray the condi-
tions at the end of the 18th century and how
the people’s acquaintance with the interior
liighland was declining.
At the close of the nineteenth century the
interior highland again began to be travelled
about and explored. Yet the biggest lake, which
was to be in the Veidivötn lakes group, was
not found. This lake was Stórisjór. Consider-
able ink has been shed on as to where this
lake was situated or whether it has ever existecl
at all. Discussion of it was renewed as geological
investigations were carried out in the Tungnaá
depression.
4. LAKE STÓRISJÓR
We have available a description of Stórisjór
dating from the year 1795 very well fitting to
the conditions in the Tungnaá depression east
of Veidivötn (Pálsson 1945). It contains the
following paragraph: “Stóri-Sjór is the north-
Fig. 2. A view towards northeast along the Tungnaá basin, formerly occupied by lake Stórisjór.
The arrow points to the mount Sydri-Kerling. Photo E. G. Vilmundardóttir Oct. 20, 1966.
Mynd 2. Séð norðaustur eftir Tungnaárlœgðinni, þar sem fyrrum var Stórisjór. Orin vísar á
Syðri-Kerli ngu.
JÖKULL 17. ÁR 283