Mýrdalshreppur

The settlement in Vík was formed around a store that began in 1884 with fishing, discharging, and loading. Most of those who moved to Vík in the first years were local farmers from the area who kept part of their livestock, sheep were given pasture in Vík, and most households had their cows for milk production. The cows were herded to and from the village every morning and evening. The residents of Mýrdalur were dependent on their livestock, as most of the food production was done at home. Milk and dairy products were processed at home, and mutton as well.

Farmers went to the fishing stations in the autumn, to Reykjavík, or even to Snæfellsnes in the west. It was beneficial to live close to the sea and even vital. The residents of Mýrdalur started hunting fulmars around 1830, as there are a lot of them in the area. First, dip nets were used or an attempt to shoot the fulmar. Attempts were also made by climbing the cliffs, which was dangerous, as people with primitive equipment used it. Until the first decade of the last century, both winter fulmars and fulmar chicks were hunted. Descending off a cliff by rope was difficult and labor-intensive task. Blackbird eggs were often picked along the way. To this day, eggs are still being picked, but fulmars are only caught at the end of the summer for 1-2 weeks. Then the fulmar chicks are chased and knocked out. The fulmar is de-feathered, scorched, and salted in barrels.

Puffin was caught with a dip net for many years; first, he was dug out from his holes but later, a dip net was used.

Until the 1940s, fishing was practiced in Mýrdalur. Rowing was from Dyrhólaey, Reynisfjörður, Pétursey and Maríuhlið by Jökulsá on Sólheimasandur. Fishing was important to provide for the household. There is no port in the area, and landing conditions were difficult and so dangerous that fishing stopped.