Båtsfjord, Finmark

Last modified: 2005-04-02 by phil nelson
Keywords: batsfjord | fishing hook |
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by Jan Oskar Engene, 27 April 2002
Approved on 19 April 1985.

• About the flag
• Blazon

• Finnmark
• Norway
• Norwegian municipality flags

Once again we are dealing with a very simple, yet distinct, coat of arms, and consequently also a simple and effective flag: A fishing hook in white on a blue field. The arms and flag were approved by Royal resolution dated 19 April 1985. One might criticize the blazon for being too general in the description of the charge, as the drawing shows a special kind of fishing hook, a type made of bone. This kind of bone fishing hook is known back to the Stone Age. As we know, modern metal fishing hooks look quite different, and their thin appearance makes them unsuitable as heraldic charges. The choice of a fishing hook for a charge is explained by the fact that Båtsfjord is a community that relies on fishing for income. Source: [cjo87].
Jan Oskar Engene, 27 April 2002

Is there a reason for Båtsfjord municipality to specifically choose a Stone age fishing hook?
Peter Hans van den Muijzenberg, 1 May 2002

I am not sure, but I would not be surprised if there is some connection to an archaeological find in the municipality.
Jan Oskar Engene, 2 May 2002

Norske kommunevåpen [c2j87] shows a drawing of a hook very similar to the one pictured in the flag, captioned (my translation): "Bone fishing hook from younger stone-age, found near Vadsø." The hook in the flag is similar, but made remarkably "fatter" so to fill the field decently.
Željko Heimer, 2 May 2002

Official blazon in Norwegian: "I blått en hvit fiskekrok."

Blazoned in English: "Azure a fish-hook argent."
English blazon by Joe McMillan, 30 July 2002