The Golden Epe; the longtailed duck; the scaup duck; the kittiwake;
the fulmar; the gull; the gannet; the puffin; the common and Brunnich’s
quillemot; the common tern and the eiderduck. This last-named bird
is strictly protected and becomes quite tame. It lines its nest with down,
which, being gathered and cleaned, makes a valuable article of commodity.
In the larger lakes, such as M¢vatn and Thingvallavatn, there is, as.
already mentioned, a considerable fishing all the year round. But
various species of frout (e. g. char and sea trout) ascend the rivers
from the sea every summer, and ate largely caught. A number of ri-
vers, both in the north, and especially in the south-west, are visited
by salmon regularly every summer, and caught either by rod or traps.
The sea round the coasts of Iceland is particularly rich in many
kinds of fish, of which the most important species are cod and had-
dock, caught all round the island, and herring, fished chiefly off the
north coast.
Other species, of which considerable quantities are caught, are, saithe,
ling, torsk, catfish, lumpfish, halibut, dab, and plaice. Sharks, from
which trainoil is prepared. are now chiefly caught off the north coast.
NATURAL RESOURCES
Though a great part of the country is a barren waste devoid of vege-
ation, vet the habitable land, as compared with the number of po-
pulation, is very extensive. Thus to every farm there belongs a large
tract of land, a small portion of which is cultivated, i. e. manured for
the purpose of producing the greatest possible quantity of grass of the
best possible quality. A comparatively small area is given up to the
growing of vegetables. The rest, which is uncultivated, is partly mown,
partly used as grazing ground for the stock. Most of the farming
population is economically dependent on the growth of the grass and
the haymaking in summer, as the hay almost exclusively constitutes
the winter fodder for the stock. But as a secondary occupation many
farmers go fishing in rowing-boats part of the year. But owing to the
small boats formerly employed, the rich fishing grounds could only be
partly utilized till larger craft, as motor boats and steam trawlers,
began to be used. Since then the yearly output has increased enor-
mously, and the number of those living bv fishing alone is swelling
every year.
There are in Iceland no mines worth mentioning, except a calcareous
spar mine, yielding a very superior kind of spar (Iceland spar), not
obtainable elsewhere. Sulphur mines are found in various places and
