The Clipfish Woman of Kristiansund (sculptor Tore Bjørn Skjølsvik). Clipfish is salted cod (and some other species) originally sun-dried on the smooth rocks at the sea. ('Clip' stems from Danish-Norwegian 'klippe' meaning 'rock'.) The "clipfish women" – and the children – did most of the work on land – the men did the fishing. The clipfish story starts in the 1690s and the product was, and still is, exported to Spain, Portugal and other countries. This is the main reason Kristiansund prospered and grew. Now the fish is dried in drying houses elsewhere – not in Kristiansund.
(2003-06-16)