234 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



read : " It is thought that the lobster-fisheries are very injurious to all 

 the other important fisheries ; for experienced fishermen say that fish 

 mostly live where there are lobsters, and that they dive to the bottom 

 to get the roe of the lobster. It is well known all along the coast that 

 through lobster-fishing the cod and mackerel fisheries are neglected, and 

 it is desirable that this fishery should be entirely abandoned." 



Thisbeliefin the injuriousness of the lobster-fisheries seems to have been 

 very common till the end of the last century ; for, in " Versuch einer Natur- 

 geschichte der Krabben und Krebse, " by Herbst, 1797, it says " that many 

 people think this trade is injurious to Norway, as the removal of large 

 quantities of lobsters makes the fisheries leave the coast of Norway." Gov- 

 ernor Holm, in his u Forsog til Beshrivelse over Lister og Mandate Amter i 

 Korge" likewise says: "It is difficult to say in how far lobster-fishing 

 hinders the other fisheries, as many fishermen stoutly maintain. Lobster- 

 fishing has been carried on, as now, in clden times, when the other fish- 

 eries were very considerable." The lobster-ships were to go to certain 

 ports specially designated, and, on leaving these ports, were to pay a 

 sum to the custom-house officers, who besides liked to take small pres- 

 ents, which abuse is complained of as early as 1717, as likewise 

 that the citizens sold to the lobster-ships brandy and lumber, receiviug 

 in exchange various goods which paid no duty. The lobster-ships gen- 

 erally came twice a year from Holland, late in autumn and early in 

 spring, and sailed along the coast to get their cargo in the ports des- 

 ignated for them. The English at that time received their lobsters 

 from their own coasts, from the North American islands, and from Heli- 

 goland ; 1^,000 having been exported to England from the latter place in 

 1713, aud 34,000 in 1714. But, as soon as the English demand grew 

 larger, English ships occasionally came to Norwegian ports, and bought 

 lobsters, paying a higher price than the Dutch. It seemed, also, as if, 

 through the introduction of baskets in Lister aud Karmo, by which lob- 

 sters were easier caught in greater numbers, and through the increased 

 export during the years of peace after 1713, the quantity of lobsters had 

 decreased, and the fishermen began to complain of the low price paid 

 by the Dutch. In 1716, the fishermen of Lister addressed a memorial 

 to Governor Povel Juel, saying "that they no longer could sell lobsters 

 according to the old regulations at a cent apiece, because the fisheries 

 decreased year by year, so that they had no reward for their trouble, 

 danger, and expense, but only less profit in their farming, which had to 

 be entirely neglected on account of these fisheries ; they, therefore, had 

 concluded to give up the above-mentioned fisheries entirely;" and, 

 therefore, they petitioned him to forbid the lobster-buyers to visit the 

 ports, or at least to raise the price to 2 cents apiece. The governor, 

 who always seems to have taken a deep interest in the welfare of his 

 district, consequently decreed, July 15, 1717, " partly in order to please 

 the farmers, and partly the lobster-buyers, who would quickly get their 

 cargo if all the men along the coast gave greater attention to the 



