THE COD FISHERIES NEAR THE LOFFODEN ISLANDS. 569 



That this is really the Gulf Stream is seen not only by its producing a 

 considerably higher temperature (in winter it sometimes rises in twenty- 

 four hours from several degrees below zero to as many degrees above 

 zero), but likewise by a very noticeable rise in the temperature of the 

 water, at any rate near the surface. I have thus, after continued easterly 

 wind with the atmosphere several degrees below zero, found the tem- 

 perature of the water near the surface not much over -f 1^ C.,* while 

 after a southwesterly wind it rose within a short time to +3^ C. 

 Farther down the difference is probably less marked, but it may be 

 observed to a depth of 40-50 fathoms. In deeper water the tempera- 

 ture seems to keep more even, generally about + 4^ C. It is probable, 

 however, that the nature of the bottom has a considerable influence 

 on the temperature of the deepest water. I have found that the soft 

 clay mixed with mud, which forms the bottom of the ravines mentioned 

 above, develops a remarkable degree of warmth, probably by a sort of 

 chemical process {e. g., fermentation.) When the thermometer was put 

 in mud brought up from a depth of 100 fathoms, it quickly rose to + 10^ 

 C. The warmth of this mud was undoubtedly originally still greater, 

 but decreased by being brought through the cold water. 



I have purposely dwelt so long on these physical conditions of our 

 northern coast, because probably we here meet with causes (currents of 

 the sea and changing temperature occasioned by them, and nature of 

 the bottom), which have a decided influence on the fisheries, and con- 

 sequently ought to receive constant attention by continued investiga- 

 tions. 



I now proceed to my subject proper, viz, the fisheries. We may here 

 distinguish three principal phases, viz, the coming-in of the fish, their 

 spawning, and their going out, all of which are of such importance as 

 to deserve a separate chapter. 



THE COMING IN. 



Very early, according to information given me by fishermen, even 

 before Christmas, there are signs of the codfish approaching the Lof- 

 foden Islands. About this time an unusual number of other small fish 

 gather on the higher places of the bottom, among them some which 

 generally are found only at a very considerable depth. Soon large 

 codfish begin to make their appearance, and as their number increases, 

 the other fish decrease gradually, until scarcely any other fish but cod- 

 fish are found. 



This early codfish is called the " announcing fish" by the fishermen, 

 and differs according to all accounts from the real codfish, which does 

 •not make its appearance till the middle of January. Although I have 

 had no opportunity to investigate this matter, it seems quite probable 



' Degrees of the Centigrade scale can readily be reduced to Fahrenheit by means of 

 the following formula : x° Fahrenheit Centigrade = 32 + ^ a; o.— (Translator.) 



