The age of motor

The introduction of motorized vessels, motor-boats and steam-trawlers during the first decade of the 20^th century caused rapid expansion and changes in the Icelandic fisheries. The fishing effort was greatly enhanced as well as catches. Within a period of two decades the Icelanders acquired a modern fishing fleet which was technically second to none in northern Europe and could go fishing all the year round. The fishing capacity of the new fleet of motor- and steam-vessels was much greater than that of the earlier fleet of rowing boats and decked sailing vessels and for the first time in their history the Icelanders were able to utilize practically all fish stocks of the fishing grounds off their coasts. This accounted for pelagic species like herring no less than demersal ones and the trawlers, steam line-fishers and the bigger motor-boats were capable of fishing in grounds far off the coast, and even in distant waters.

The motorization of the fleet of fishing boats which started in November 1902 continued at an almost amazing rate. In 1912, only ten years after the first motor was installed in a fishing boat in Iceland, the Icelanders had acquired 406 motor-boats under 12 tons in size, and 8 bigger. In the next two decades the number of the bigger boats multiplied; they were 224 in 1930 and 310 in 1939. The number of the smaller boats, under 12 tons, also grew rapidly and peaked in 1930 when 787 such boats were in operation. After the First World War, the Icelanders also acquired a number of steam-powered vessels, the so-called “longliners”. These were mostly old North Sea trawlers, which were used in the longline fishery in winter and in herring fishery in summer, as well as being used for transportation.

All this greatly enhanced the fishing capacity of the fleet and was soon visible in increasing catches. In 1905 the total catch in demersal fish (motor-boats, rowing boats and sailing vessels) amounted to 62,500 tonnes, in 1910 it was 80,400 tons and in 1930 the combined catches of motor-boats and longliners was 216,700 tons. During the 1930´s the catches fell, mainly because of the Depression which prevailed for most of the decade and resulted in diminished fishing effort. In 1939 the total catches of motor-boats and longliners was 113,800 tons.

The motor-boats were operated out of ports in all parts of the country, but during the 1930´s the bigger boats in North-Iceland were often laid-up during winter and fished mostly for herring during summer. Motor-boats less than 12 tons were generally owned by individuals – one, two or three – and run as family business. Larger boats were also in some cases owned by individuals, but more often by companies or corporations, retailers, cooperatives or partnerships. In the 1930s local governments began to participate in the operation of motor-boats, mainly in order to strengthen the local economy and increase employment.

Jón Þ. Þór - University of Akureyri