The Iceland year-book - 01.01.1926, Síða 69

Iceland and multiplied the output. The enormous
growth of the fishing industry will be evident from
the following table of the exports of fish. These
in 1743 amounted to 1920 tons
— 1840 — — 3300 —
— 1855
— 1878
— 1898
— 1925
— 4530 —
— 5160 —
— 9800 —
—50000 —
The herring exports in 1925 amounted to 254.110
barrels.
In the early years of the 19th century exports
dwindled down to a mere trifle, owing to disloca-
tion of commerce through the Napoleonic wars.
Exclusive of open boats the fishing fleet in 1925
consisted of:—
36 steamtrawlers.
33 long-liners.
62 motor-vessels of 30 tons and more.
560 motorboats of less than 30 tons.
20 sailing vessels of different sizes.
Almost without exception the steamtrawlers
are large and very much up-to-date.
A great number of fish abound in the Icelandic
waters, but the most important of the species
exported is the codfish, before it is exported it
goes through a long and very elaborate process of
salting, washing, resalting, and drying. An article
of exceptionally high standard quality is thus pro-
duced, and the law regarding this export trade is
very strict, and very firmly applied. Not a single
dry-salted codfish may he exported until it has been
examined and classed by a trained and sworn
Government Inspector. During the winter seasom
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