The North Atlantic Fisheries, 1100-1976 - University of Hull

since been disputed by A. Nedkvitne (see below). Studies of the local
settlement pattern in the fishery districts of North Norway nevertheless
give support to Lunden’s conclusion—the population decrease during
the crisis in the Late Middle Ages was remarkably strong also in the
north. 254
In the 1500s price data show a long-term reduction in stockfish
prices, reaching its minimum in the middle of the seventeenth century.
Studies of the fisheries in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries have
traditionally been greatly concerned with the depression and its
consequences, which were apparent already in the sixteenth century, 255
but recent research has shown that it did not result in a real crisis until in
the 1620s. 256 And in spite of the price depression, it is important to note
that the volume of fish traded increased up to the 1650s. 257
On the other hand there is no doubt that the period 1650-1750 was one
of stagnation. 258 But after 1750 a new positive trend emerged. This
included rising prices, new methods of production and technological
improvements. After a temporary setback during the Napoleonic Wars,
this positive development continued during the nineteenth century.
The only comprehensive survey of the Norwegian fisheries is Trygve
Solhaug’s two-volume edition De norske fiskeriers historie 1815-1880
(1976). For the earlier periods the best survey is Arnved Nedkvitnes
“Mens Bønderne seilte og Jægterne for” – Nordnorsk og vestnorsk
kystøkonomi 1500-1730 (1988). His doctoral thesis Utenrikshandelen fra
det vestafjelske Norge 1100-1600 adds important information as to the
fisheries and the fish trade in the medieval period. Another useful
volume for the earlier periods is Norsk Økonomisk Historie 1500-1850
with chapters on fishing written by Stein Tveite. A classic work, which
also should be mentioned in this context, is Axel Coldevin’s Næringsliv
og priser i Nordland 1700-1880 (1938), even if its main concern is trade
and prices. As for the national question and the role of the Hanseatic fish
trade, Johan Screiner’s book Hanseatene og Norge i det 16. århundre
(1941) is the seminal work, even if many conclusions have now been
254 Nielssen 1981. Høgsæt (Aarsæther) 1980.
255 Coldevin 1938.
256 Lindbekk 1978; Nielssen 1986.
257 Dyrvik, Fossen, Grønlie, Hovland, Nordvik, Tveite 1979: 37.
258 Dyrvik etc. 1979: 39-40.
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