BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 9 



C— THE FISHEEIES. 

 I. — The Norwegian fisheries. 



The method of taking cod with gill-nets is said to have been intro- 

 duced into Xorway about 1685, and nets are now employed extensively 

 at the principal fishing stations along the coast of that country, but 

 more than anywhere else in the great winter cod-fisheries that are car- 

 ried on at the Lofoten Islands. These islands are situated on the west 

 coast of Norway, north of the Arctic circle, and the banks in their vicin- 

 ity are the favorite resort of immense schools of cod that gather there 

 to spawn. Toward the latter part of December the first schools appear 

 upon the grounds along the outer side of the Lofoten group, and soon the 

 "coming-in" fish are taken on those banks lying inside, in the West- 

 fiord. The arrival of these fish, which are the forerunners of the count- 

 less millions that invariably follow, is hailed with great delight by the 

 fishermen, many of whom resort hither from other parts of the country 

 to engage in these fisheries, so many often being congregated here in 

 the winter that at some points they are quite crowded. 



The bank which is the iJrincipal resort of the fishermen from Xord- 

 land extends along the coast of Lofoten from the island of Eost to the 

 Strait of Raft. This is from three to twelve miles from the land, and 

 has a depth varying from 40 to 80 fathoms. 



The fishing is at its height in Februarj^ and March, while the fish are 

 spawning. At this period, especially during the latter month, the cod 

 are said to be very restless and disinclined to take the hook, and are 

 usually caught in nets, the catch being increased and a better quality 

 of fish obtained by using them. The experience of the Norwegian fish- 

 ermen shows that the fatter the fish the less it is inclined to take the 

 bait ; therefore the most skillful fishermen are provided with nets as 

 well as trawls. 



The fishing is carried on in open boats. The net-boats, which, as a rule, 

 are larger than those used for trawling, are from 35 to 40 feet long, 9 to 10 

 feet wide, and 3 feet deep. These are provided with a single mast, 

 on which is set a large quadrangular sail, and each boat has also ten 

 or twelve oars, by means of which the crew can row rapidly even against 

 the wind. The crew of a boat fitted for the net-fishery varies from six to 

 eight men, and the number of nets from sixty to a hundred. These are 

 not all in use at the same time, but the greater part are kept in reserve 

 to supply the place of such as may need repairs or drying, or that may 

 be lost. From twenty to thirty-five nets are fastened together and set 

 in a gang by each boat on a specified part of the fishing ground. Where 

 so many are fishing at one place they are obliged to adopt some rule for 

 setting the gear to prevent its fouling, since that would result in loss to 

 all and soon render a valuable fishery practically worthless. A certain 

 part of the fishing ground is therefore assigned for the nets, and an- 



