Measurements of the shear stress and the first normal stress difference were carried out for solutions of Carbopol and two types of CMC. A rotational cone-and-plate rheometer was applied in the shear rate range from 0.2 to 3000 s(-1). It was found that depending on the applied shear rate and the concentration of the 9H4 type CMC solutions, either the viscous or the elastic properties predominate.