School

Øyværet has had a rural road connection and a post office. Until 1917 they also had a school. It was located in a student's room for a period, later they had a community school in various houses. The teachers came out to the island and taught for two or three weeks at a time. After the school was closed, the students were moved to the Vika school district in Vega.

Fiskevær

Muddvær has been an important fishing village with good fishing grounds. Until 1950, seal hunting was also carried out here, and the island was a good egg and eiderdown islands . The road users went out to Muddvær to fish as soon as the hay harvest was over. They lived in the fishermen's huts that the landowners had built on the islands which was closest to the homeland. They fished mostly for cod, which was the most important product for sale. The fish was hung on a rack and dried, then transported by five-wheeler to the city twice a year. From 1930, purchasing vessels came and bought the fish. In the period immediately before the Second World War and until 1962/63, three different buyers established fish reception facilities at the island . Hung, salted and fresh fish were shipped from Muddvær all the way to England and southern Norway.

Water conditions were poor at the island , especially when the summers were dry. Therefore, two state wells and a pool were built. Around 1950, about fifty fishermen were still actively fishing for spring cod around the island . After the last fish farm closed in 1968, the rural road connection and the post office ceased. Then also the permanent settlement in the fishing village ended. Today the five farmhouses in Muddvær by eider keepers and as a summer home. There are also two cabins set up there.

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Source

“ Vegaøyan World Heritage. Cultural History Travel Book .” by Inga E. Næss and Rita Johansen.