36 



Calculated according to the ordinary prices of the valuable substances, 

 the starfisb, in the condition in wiiich tbey were when analysed, may be esti- 

 mated at a value of 150 Øre per 100 Ibs. As tbey contain so much water, 

 tbey are not fit to be carried very far, but on the spot they may very well 

 be used for the preparatiou of composf. 



I shall not bere express any opinion as to the question, wbether it 

 will pay, directlj', to land the starfish, only for tbe purpose of using them 

 as manure; but even if the fishermen get uotbing whatever for their trouble, 

 it will certainly pay in the long run, to do something to destroy these 

 animals, particularly in the Limfjord where they are so uumerous. 



On the Breeding-grounds of the Herring. 



There is uo doubt tbat the herring breeds at mauy piaces in our seas, 

 and for many years attention has been paid to findiug at least tlie more 

 frequented of these piaces. Their spawn, certainly, is ofteu seen on tlie 

 pouud-nets, but it may have come there in an unusual way, by the herrings 

 having been chased about tbe net and baviug dropped tbeir spawn. From 

 tbis we eau conclude only tbat tbe berriug would probably have bred at a 

 not very great distance from the net; but tliat is of Httle consequence. 



Spawn of herrings, attached to tlie bottom or to tbe vegetation of tbe 

 bottom, I have found in the following piaces: To a shght extent already in 

 tlie spring of 1890 in tbe Issefjord, north of Ouro; in several different j'ears 

 at Eefsnæs-Revef. Here, sometimes, there was much spawn, for instance 8. 

 June 1899; it was particularly frequent on 4 — 5 fathoms; it weut down to 

 7, but not to 10 fathoms; it was attached to algæ. 25. May 1900, we also 

 found the spawn of herrings here. In May 1899 the spawn of herrings was 

 found at Kmidshoved (Nyborg), at some piaces on 5 — 9 fathoms of water, 

 mostly where there was vegetation; so also at Sprogø on Laminariæ, and 

 28. May 1900 at Vresen. The 2. and 3. of May 1900 N and NE of Nørre 

 Nissum Churcli in Nissum Bredning, iu the Limfjord, we took in a plaice- 

 seine, in several hauls, a quantity of furcellaria and dead sostera. The former 

 was covered with tlie spawn of herrings. Here must be a large breediug- 

 place, tliough they seldom, if ever, fish for plaice here. At Stege on the 

 Isle of Møen, April 3. — 4., 1894, the tank on board the Biological Station was 

 found to be filled with quite tender fry of herriugs, and the fishermeu in- 

 formed us tbat the herrings had been breeding a fortnight ago, in March 

 consequently, in the neighbouring pound-nets. '\\'e must then be near a 

 breeding-place here. 



