Who Worked in the Norwegian Ice Industry?
Ice harvesting was carried out by sailors who were unable to work on board ice ships during the winter months because the ships were icebound. Their casual labour was either in the timber or ice trades. Once the spring thaw began the sailors would sign on as crew again. Working with ice was gruelling labour and the competition between ships was fierce. Ice was stored in the ship’s hold. In spring, whoever made it across the North Sea in record time felt immense pride. The End of the Norwegian Ice Industry In the 1890s artificial ice was introduced and the Norwegian ice industry was lost for ever. Read on Cruising Norway is Warm, Unique, and Affordable Hanseatic League Dominance in Northern Germany Christmas in London – Offbeat Things to Do According to Felicity Kinross, who interviewed some old icemen who had worked in the industry, there was no comparison between natural ice and the artificial ice which was made from the British water supply. Natural ice was purer and preserved the fl
