  Transport current distribution in clean 2$H$-NbSe$_{2}$ crystals is studied
by measuring the self-induced magnetic field across the sample. Below $T_c$
most of the current flows at the edges of the crystals due to strong surface
barriers, which are found to dominate the transport properties and the
resistive transition. The measured critical current is determined by the
critical current for vortex penetration through the surface barrier rather than
by bulk pinning.
