38 



happeii, it seeins to ine, tliat we must overlook nny possihlc smaller draw- 

 back to tlie introduction of trawling. But if we cousider it our principal 

 object, to procure clieap tish for Copenhagen, then we could simply mako 

 an arrangement with German or English trawlers about the delivery of fish 

 for Copenhagen; we should then run no risk by starting a great imdertaking 

 with Danish capital. 



I have now, I think, stated the whole matter, and enlightened it from all 

 sides, such as it appears to me. When I have not before expressed any 

 oi)inion as to the possibility of trawling with large vessels from Denmark 

 in order to supply the Danish market, the reasous are: the ditt'iculty in 

 seeiug whether there are here buyers for the trawl-caught fish, and the faet thai 

 I did not know that the number of fish was sufficieutly large on our 

 shores through such a great part of the year (at least from Octobor till 

 May). It must be remembered that tlie question is here particularly of 

 roundfish, migratory fish consequently, and pole dåbs. When earlier 

 J3anish steam-trawl companies, which have employed Danish vessels, have 

 not carried the fish to Copenhagen, I must suppose tliey have had parti- 

 cular reasons for it; but this need not prevent others who might desire to 

 try such trawling from a Danish harbour. 



One should think that it is in itself a haudsome object for private 

 euterprise, to supi)ly Copenhagen and the rest of Denmark with clieaj) fish, 

 as it must be looked upon as a patriotic task to set up a competition with 

 the foreign nations in our own seas. If my expositiou of the matter can 

 help to call up private iuitiative, I should be glad. For besides this, my 

 only intention witii the above has been to make it clear how we are stand- 

 iug in this matter as regards foreign countries, and to free myself from 

 the responsibility I should feel by being silent about it. 



How to enter upon it in the best way, is a question I shall not 

 discuss here. There are raany possibilities; but the object must l)e: to 

 ohtain for Copenhagen a constanf snpphj of cheap, trawl-raiujht fish. That the 

 jiractical accomplishment of this whole matter will meet many difficulties. 

 I shall only mention. One of these difficulties will, doubtless, be the 

 sale of the fish, as it would be neoessary, sooner or later, to get a suitable 

 covered fish-market where the public sale could be held. But with regard 

 to this I think that the undertaking may reckou on the powerful support 

 of the municipality of Copenhagen, as this city first and foremost would 

 benefit by the new enterprise. To prepare the transition from the j>resent 

 state to something better, the catch might also be soi'ted at Frederikshavn, 

 or in the new harbour at the Skaw. Part of it could then be sent by 

 rail to Hamburg where, for the time being, there is an unlimited market 

 for trawl-caught fish. It would then be necessary only to sail the few miles 

 from Frederiks! lavn to »Skager-Rack, where no doubt the principal lishing- 

 grounds will be situated. 



