20 
group which is most frequently missing in our seas. Were I to form an 
estimate as to the growth of the cod, it would be as follows: In its first year 
it is between 1 and 8 inches long; in its second between 10 and 18; in 
its third between 20 and 30; and in its fourth year 30 inches and longer. 
After that it grows but slowly. In our waters it is the one and two years 
old fish that form the main body of the stock; the tender fry and the older 
ones (3 and 4 years old, and more) are rather rare within the Skaw. — 
Compare Fulton: "19. Annual Rep. Fishery Board. 1901”, in which a some- 
what similar growth is reported of the cod from Scotland, hut with the same 
uncertainly with respect to the older fish. Over there the cod as a rule 
does not become procreative till it is 20—22 inches long. 
According to John Bickerdyke, the sportsman (Sea Fishing. London 
1895. The Badminton Library), the views held by the English fishermen 
as to the size of the cod, come somewhat nearer to mine; for they call cod 
under 20 inches ""codlings”, between 20—30 inches "sprags”, then follow 
«halfcod” and "cod”. 
It must be considered ås proved that, even though there be some 
difference with regard to colour, early maturity, and average size, between 
our cod within the Skaw and the cod in the North Sea, they both belong 
to the same stock of cod; they both make migrations every year, from one 
sea to the other, the fry as well as the larger fish, and to such an extent 
that our domestic stock of cod cannot be destroyed till that of the North Sea 
is destroyed; for even if all cod in our waters were fished up, they would 
very soon be replaced by an immigration into these seas from the North Sea. 
IL Investigations in 1901. 
The above treatise was in all essentials finished by me in the spring 
1901; but I did not want to publish it till later on, as I hoped in the 
following year to be able to supplement it on several points. This hope 
has been realised, and I shall here add what I have further learnt in the 
course of this year with respect to the life of the cod in and near our seas. 
It has fallen to my lot this year to take part in two expeditions on board 
the Norwegian scientific steamer "M. Sars”, by whose chief, Dr. J. Hjort, 
I was invited. On the first of these expeditions we went from the Lofoten 
to the Norwegian North Atlantic, Hammersfest, and Spitzbergen, our prin- 
cipal object being the investigation of the fry of the cod. With Dr. Hjor?'s 
permission I can state, on the basis of our investigations in Norway this 
summer, that my view on the question is a follows: that the tender fry of 
the cod, some time after the hatching and till it is at least 5 cm. long, has 
its home in the open sea in the summer, partly far from land, and not in the 
fjords; it does not arrive here till later in the year. We fished great quan- 
tities of it near the surface, and it was the prey of the immense shoals of 
