THE NORWEGIAN HERRING-FISHERIES. 103 



Skude, and strong southwesterly gales rage for any length of time, they 

 are prevented from reaching their usual spawning places, and remain a 

 long time outside the channel for some more favorable opportunity. If, 

 however, the storm continues, the herring generally pass into that part 

 of the channel which, stretching by Skude, runs on into the sound of 

 Karm. Fishing may then be carried on up to Salkus and to the end of 

 the Forresfjord. Of this there are many instances as far back as 1815. 

 From the accounts of the government inspector, it will be seen that 

 this was the case in 1857, and most of us will recollect the great fish- 

 eries of 1803. A southeasterly wind on this coast will have the same 

 effect, but to a less degree. If the herring keep more toward the south 

 near the Hvidiug Islands and Roth, both strong southwest and north- 

 west winds will prevent their approach to these islands. In that case 

 the whole school passes by Tunge, and there may be good fishing 

 directly up to Stavanger, as was the case in 1825. Similar facts will 

 become apparent if we advance farther north and inquire into the like 

 circumstances. 



If the coast is exposed to strong winds blowing toward it, the herring 

 do not approach it, and the fisheries, if they have commenced, are inter- 

 rupted. Thus, rich fisheries far in the Bommelfjord beyond Tittelsnres, 

 and even far beyond Nyleden, will be a consequence of continual storms, 

 when the herring have been previously outside of Sletten or south of 

 Espevser. Of this there are many instances. Hence it will be seen 

 that the point on which the question turns, is not whether the winds 

 blow toward or from the coast, but what kind of wind prevails at the 

 respective fishing-places, since a wind blowing toicard the coast may in 

 one place have the same effect as a wind blowing from the coast in 

 another. 



The temperature of the air also exercises great influence on tbe fish- 

 eries ; and this influence has never been underrated, but has always 

 been taken into accouut, although certain phenomena observed in the 

 fisheries can not yet sufficiently be explained by it. Boeck drew atten- 

 tion to the influence of temperature in his first report of 18G1. It has 

 been observed from time immemorial, that the fisheries are not as 

 abundant in cold weather as when the bottom of the sea is disturbed by 

 southerly winds. This has been proved by the experience of several 

 centuries, but only recently have attempts been made to investigate 

 this whole matter thoroughly and scientifically. Even Cuvier and Val- 

 enciennes in their great work on fish, in which the herring is discussed 

 at much length, do not enter upon this question. Dutch scientists were 

 the first to devote more attention to temperature, by making a series 

 of observations, with the view of ascertaining during what degrees of 

 temperature the herring-fishery is most prosperous. They found that 

 more fish were caught at a temperature of from 12° to 14° Celsius, than 

 at any other time. The Dutch herring-boats are therefore always sup- 

 plied with a thermometer, which enables them to place the net at a 



