yearly in Thisted Bredning along, and this would probably in time reduce the 

 stock appreciably. The stoek in Thisted Bredning may probably be estimated 

 at 20—40,000 barreis of whelks. 



On account of the immeuse harm done by the whelks to the fishes entangled 

 in fishing-nets — both plaice and other fishes in the Limfjord and just in Thisted 

 Bredning — I advise that an experimeut with a motor-boat should be 

 undertakeu as soon as possible. It would also be desirable here, if the matter 

 could pay itself economically, but even if this were not the case, the money would 

 be well-spent on the experiment. If such a paying enterprise could be started in 

 the Limfjord, similar undertakings might perhaps be begun at other piaces, but 

 the Limfjord is the right place for the start. We have seeu how, from the study 

 of the biology and cultivation of the plaice, practical results were first obtained in 

 the Limfjord; perhaps the same will occur in this case. The reasons for this are 

 of both a biologicai and legislative nature, and it is not necessary to explain them 

 f urther here; but as the fjord-exploitation of the Limfjord is already much 

 developed, it is ouly consistent to endeavour to iucrease it by means of fjord- ad- 

 ministration. My advice is, con.sequently, that the Board of Agriculture should 

 this year procure a specially equipped motor-boat. 



With such a boat we can investigate about the number of barreis 

 of whelks which can be fished in a year and thus, whether it is of any 

 use to go further in the matter by procuriug more boats; we would see further, 

 if the people of Thisted Bredning will understand how to make the whelks pro- 

 fitable as food for pigs, fowls and ducks, for which use the whelks seem to be 

 well suited, and lastly, at what prioe the whelks can be sold. 



This year, of course, the work may be restricted simply to the fishing of 

 the whelks and throwing them away; but it will be very unfortunate, if we cannot 

 at the same time make experiments on their utility. 



I cousider it of great importance, that the matter should be uudertaken 

 soon and just in 1910; hive traps, namely, can only be made in the wiuter, and 

 the Limfjord is in any case being investigated by the Biological Station this year. 



Before I express an opinion as to the possibility of combating the crabs 

 and sea-scorpions, I should prefer to make investigations into the matter from the 

 Biologicai Station for about a year or so.« 



In the winter of 1910 the Board of Agriculture allotted the funds necessary 

 for the Station and the experiment of fishing up the whelks in Thisted Bredning 

 was beguu on the 4th of April 1910. 



The whole matter of the destruction of plaice in the nets by the whelks 

 had been naturally under my observation in several previous years. It was thus 

 in accordance with my wishes that Dr. Th. Mortensen, the assistant at the 

 Biologicai Station, in 1895 carried out the enquiry mentioned on p. 46 of the 

 Committee's communicatiou, in order to ascertain how many of the plaice caught 

 in the nets are destroyed in one to two nights; but I was not at all clear, as to 

 how we should organize an attaek on the whelks. It was not uutil 1909 that I 

 began again to examine into the matter, more particularly, in connection with other 



