At long as any one can remember, enormous schools of cod have been migrating south from the Barents Sea to the Lofoten region in northern Norway to reproduce. According to historical records, Othere – the Norse navigator and explorer of the 9th century – was one of the first to understand that these fish were like money in the bank to the Vikings. Each year, Othere and his followers would hang up the catches to dry. This drying would enable the fish to maintain a high level of quality even under inconsistent storage conditions – and would become destined to be a high source of protein to many different cultures.