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

The Provisional Laws concerning the Greenlandic Fishery, 1928-1937
The law of May 1927 was formulated in such a way that it had to be
renewed every year while the Home Secretary annually had to secure his
rights by dispensation to allow a restricted fishery etc. in the Greenlandic
territorial sea. Even though it was a problem for shipowners to apply
every year at the ministry for fishing rights off Greenland for the coming
season, the same procedure led to the exertion of constant Faroese
pressure by the two Faroese M.P.s in Parliament each year. The Lagting
formulated the issues and the M.P.s presented them to the two houses in
Copenhagen.
In 1928 the Lagting promoted a proposition from the Færøernes
Skipper- og Navigatørforening (the skipper association) who wanted an
extension of the inshore fishery into the prolific long fiords, but it was
turned down by the ministry. In 1929 the Lagting, in vain, applied for
another real harbour for larger vessels further up north, but in 1935 the
proposition was accepted and the harbour at Tovkussak between
Maniitsoq (Sukkertoppen) and Nuuk (Godthåb) was opened. Only a few
vessels used it, so the harbour was closed again in 1938. In 1931, after
constant Faroese pressure, the limits for fishing in the territorial sea were
extended from 62 , 40´ to 65 , 15´ north (from out of Ravns Storø up to
out of Sukkertoppen, Maniitsoq). In 1933 Faroese fishermen were
allowed to fish inshore waters directly from Færinghavn with small
boats.
The Faroese policy was effective and clear: constant demands and
persistent pressure brought results in Greenlandic waters. 161
The Faroese Get their Way; the Greenland-Agreement of 1938-39
trawlers. The area reached from Ravns Storø to Håbets Ø (out of Godthåb, Nuuk). The
Faroese M.P., A. Samuelsen, was a good advocate for his national case and ensured that
the major points of the Lagting’s propositions were pushed through. Folketingstidende, 4
May 1927, column 5283 ff. The law was extended nearly unchanged in 1928,
Rigsdagsårbogen 1926/27 p 249f and 1927/28 p 155; laws of 30 May 1927 and 4 April
1928, Lovtidende C, nr. 127 (all further references in the Rigsdagsårbogen, to debates
etc.).
161 Cf. the yearly Committee reports and addresses from the Lagting printed in
Lagtingtidende 1928-37. The essential reports, deliberations and decisions are quoted
and reprinted in the major report of the Lagting, 1938, ‘Grønlandsmál’. The deliberations
and laws of parliament 1928-38 are summarized annually and the new articles are printed
in the Rigsdagårbogen, subjects: ‘Grønland’, ‘Færøerne’, ‘Fiskeri’ in the index.
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