18 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 



wheu altogether 97 were caught, 19 were caught prior to that date. 

 The difference shown above is, therefore, brought about by the early or 

 late commencement of the season and by the varying length of the 

 capelin- fisheries ; it should also be borne in mind that a number of 

 whales are caught every year outside the zone of protection, where 

 fishing is free all the year round. 



The whale-fisheries hav'e increased in importance of late years and 

 form a considerable source of income to a number of our population. 

 As far as we remember, Svend Foyn commenced operations in good 

 earnest in 1868, and during the next eight or ten years he averaged 20 

 to 50 whales a year. After that period his fisheries increased rapidly ; 

 thus, in 1878 he caught 97 whales ; in 1879, 83 ; and in 1880, 85. A joint- 

 stock company, Jarfiord, in 1879 caught 45 whales, and in 1880, 60. 

 These favorable results have stirred up a spirit of speculation, and re- 

 cently there have been founded in and near Tonsberg no less than three 

 new joint-stock comx)anies for working* the whale-fisheries, viz, the 

 Stokke Company, which has bought a harbor at Pasvik, near Jarfiord, 

 the Fiumarken Company, which possesses a harbor in West Finmarken, 

 on the south coast of the island of Soro, and the Westfold Comj)any, 

 which has a harbor on the island of Magero, near the North Cape. Each 

 of these companies has a considerable capital and employs a steamer. 



Whilst the protective law was being discussed, there was a great dif- 

 ference of opinion as to the advisability and necessity of limiting such 

 imi)ortant fisheries, already involving considerable interests ; and the 

 majority of the committee (of the Norwegian Parliament) who had the 

 matter in charge were opposed to it. What finally decided the com- 

 mittee to declare in favor of a i^rotective law was undoubtedly a regard 

 to the very generally prevailing opinion that the whale-fisheries have 

 exercised a hurtful influence on the cod-fisheries (capelin-fisheries). 

 The cod follows the capelin, and the capelin, it is said, is chased to- 

 wards the coast by the whale. It was maintained that the capeMn 

 would stay away if the whales were exterminated, and it was also said 

 that the manner in which the whale-fisheries are carried on, the noise 

 of the steamers, the shooting, &c., disturbed the capelin and chased 

 them away from the coast, and that the filth inseparably connected with 

 the preparing of the whale after it is caught would fill the sea-water and 

 the coast with impurities and refuse, and thereby keep the capelin away. 

 Science does not share this oi)inion, but maintains that the capelin seeks 

 the coast in order to spawn, but that the whale only comes to seek food. 

 It also is well to draw a comj)arison between the whales and the 

 schools of herrings which periodically approach the southern coast of 

 Norway. There is an old law prohibiting the catching of whales in a 

 herring-fiord; but no spring-herring fisherman will at this day entertain 

 the opinion that the whale chases the herrings towards the coast. Not 

 even in the southern i)ortion of Norway could any movement be set on 



