Initially called breybarer, the national postal service developed at the same time as the skyss system. Obligation to transport the mail fell once more to private citizens who lived along the route. As with the skyss system, they were not paid for their labors. A more formal system was introduced by the Governor of Norway in 1647. Departures were rare and much of the journey was made overland. In 1804, an official postal vessel was introduced. As was used for the skyss system, an åttring painted with the royal monogram and crown, flying a postal flag, was introduced to take mail north from Terråk in northern Norway. Though weather did not stop the båtpost from sailing, delays by government official preparing missives created a regularly tardy system that played a role in handicapping Norway’s economic development (Bent).
