618 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



with common nets, for it is so small and nimble that it can slip through 

 the smallest opening. Even if the net was so fine that they could not get 

 through, it would nevertheless, if applied in the usual manner, be of no 

 avail, as every individual fish M'ould have managed to escape before 

 reaching land, and would have dug itself deep down among the loose 

 sand. In some places, however, these fish are caught in enormous 

 numbers with the so-called sand-eel net, an implement which can only 

 be used for catching these fish. It consists of a large square piece of 

 closely-woven stuff, which has to be manipulated by several boat-crews. 

 During the spawning season of the sand-eel, this net is sometimes, with 

 considerable trouble, got under the schools; by a quick movement the 

 four corners are then raised, and the contents emptied into large boats. 

 The fish are then taken to the shore, and without any special prepara- 

 tion they are simply piled up in great heaps, from which they are grad- 

 ually taken in the course of the summer and autumn, just as occasion 

 demands, and used as food for men and cattle. 



This fish possesses the remarkable peculiarity that, piled up in this 

 manner, it will keep for a long time without entirely decomposing, and 

 although it is not probable that this half-putrefied food is very whole- 

 some if partaken of for any length of time, it is nevertheless eaten a 

 great deal in many districts and actually considered a delicacy. 



The cod and the pollack are, however, more fastidious in their taste, 

 and there is absolutely no use in offering them anything but quite fresh 

 sand-eel. As soon as it is a day old it becomes unsuitable for bait. 

 Whenever the sand-eel only is used for bait the above mentioned net is 

 not used, but whenever bait is needed, they are dug from the sand with 

 spades. They cannot, however, be caught in this way at all times. In 

 clear, sunny weather the sand-eel does not like to go on the sand. One 

 may therefore often hunt for it in vain for a whole day, while the fol- 

 lowing day hundreds may be caught. Nor can one count on catching 

 it in this manner in every place. The so-called sand-eel places known 

 from time immemorial are but few in number, and are often limited to a 

 very small space. Near the fishing-station of Skraaveu there is only 

 one such spot, covering scarcely more than 40-50 square yards. It 

 consists of a reef covered with loose sand, stretching across a narrow 

 sound. When the tide is high this reef is completely hidden by the 

 water, while at low tide the sound may be crossed at this place without 

 any danger of wetting one's feet. From this very limited place all the 

 fishermen of this station get their bait, and it is sometimes crowded 

 with people, each one digging in the sand. It is a comical sight to see 

 this crowd of fishermen engaged in this manner, and to observe with 

 what rapidity and precision they perform their difficult task. As soon 

 as by removing a quantity of sand some of the small, shining fish have 

 been brought to light, one must either by a quick movement of the 

 spade throw them up higher on the dry sand or kill them. If not, they 

 will immediately dig further down into the moist sand, and if one were 



