THE COD FISHERIES NEAR THE LOFFODEN ISLANDS. 567 



The deep sea in the west fiord, which seems to be a continuation of 

 the deep sea of the ocean, seems to have an even, tolerably firm, clayey 

 bottom, which, at any rate near the mouth, seems to approach much 

 nearer to the eastern shore (the continent) than to the western (the 

 Loflbden Islands), whilst farther up the fiord (near Skraaven) it again 

 comes very near the Loffoden Islands. The fishepmen say that the 

 greatest depth is far up the fiord, exceeding 400 fathoms. It is probable, 

 however, that near the continent a channel of just as great depth ex- 

 tends out to the western ocean. We do not, however, possess reliable 

 information on this point, as the fishermen but rarely go out farther than 

 a few miles from the shore. 



On the Loffoden side we find this deep channel in most places bounded 

 by an elevation rising almost perpendicularly and forming a rocky 

 bottom. This elevation is called the " Egbakke ; ■' nearer to the coast it 

 Slopes down again, and then rises again close to the hilly coast. It we 

 follow this elevation in an outward direction we find it near the eastern 

 Loffoden in the neighborhood of Skraaven and the Molla Islands at the 

 distance of a rifle-shot from the coast, where the bottom suddenly falls 

 100-300 fathoms ; farther west it gradually recedes from the coast till, 

 near the western Loffoden, the distance between it and the coast is from 

 3-4 (Norwegian) miles. Near the outermost islands, Eost and Voero, 

 soundings have been taken till far out at sea, and no greater depth than 

 60-80 fathoms has been found, so that the Egbakke is here probably 

 still farther from the coast. This Egbakke, however, must not be 

 imagined as an uninterrupted wall which at a certain distance from the 

 coast shuts out the deep waters ; for it is in many places broken by deep 

 ravines which extend toward the coast, and which, as a general rule, 

 seem to follow the narrow channels between the Loffoden Islands. From 

 these ravines longer and shorter side branches go out in different direc- 

 tions, which in some places are interrupted by an intervening elevation, 

 and continued on the other side. The bottom of these ravines seems in 

 nearly all cases to be covered by a very thick layer of soft clay mixed 

 with mud. The bottom formed by the elevations I have, as a general 

 rule, found to be composed as follows : Nearest the coast it is invariably 

 very uneven, forming steep terraces, often covered with a dense mass of 

 algae, or projecting peaks, which, when thetideis low, are moreor less dry, 

 and appear as dangerous reefs, against which the waves of the ocean 

 dash with a roaring noise. Lower down the bottom consists more or 

 less of sand or nullipores ; and then at a depth of 50-60 fathoms we find 

 a tolerably broad belt of a totally different character. This bottom, 

 which is more or less sloping, is thickly covered with a layer of small, 

 round stones, which continue to a depth of 80-90 fathoms, and is fol- 

 lowed by a solid rock on the Egbakke, which, having risen somewhat and 

 formed a more or less sharp ridge, often falls off perpendicularly toward 

 the clayey bottoms below. It is natural that the sloping of the eleva- 

 tion will depend on the greater or less distance to the deep water. In 



