630 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



wedge — than by any greater abundance of fish. Wherever observations 

 havebeeu made during the season when theLoffoden fisheries are going on 

 winter cod have been observed, and of late many places which were for- 

 merly unknown have been observed, and promise excellent winter-fisher- 

 ies. The information gained by me at Bodo likewise seems to point to the 

 fact that enormous masses of fish spawn every year near the outer 

 islands. On the whole, it may be safe to conclude that wherever large 

 numbers of the "smaagjed" are found near the coast during summer, 

 its parents, viz, the winter cod, will come regularly, at any rate as far 

 as the outer raised bottoms, in order to spawn. I feel convinced that 

 many places where excellent cod-fisheries could be carried on are at 

 present left alone, which to a great extent is caused by the charac- 

 teristic cleaving of northern people to old customs. The Loffoden 

 have the reputation of being the only place where winter fisheries can 

 be carried on to any advantage ; and when the time for these fisheries 

 is near, young and old everywhere prepare themselves for the long and 

 difficult voyage to the Loffoden, there to undergo terrible hardships and 

 return not only without having earned anything, but even with loss, 

 while often quite near, almost at their very door, they might have the 

 richest winter-fisheries. The large gathering of fishermen at the Loffo- 

 den fishing-stations makes it very difficult, and at times impossible, to 

 keep proper order; and there are constant complaints of quarrels and 

 fights among the fishermen, causing great loss of fish and fishing imple- 

 ments. The new fishing-law has not served to remove the cause of these 

 troubles, which have increased from year to year, inflicting incalculable 

 damage on the fisheries. This has been i)articularly the case where 

 fishing was confined to a comparatively small space, e. g., in the East 

 Loffoden. All the more reason is there to inquire whether there are 

 not other points on the coast where remunerative winter fisheries might 

 be carried on, so that the fishermen could be more evenly distributed 

 along the coast. It would seem most natural to leave this to the fish- 

 ermen themselves, but the force of the old routine is so powerful with 

 most of them that no improvement can be looked for unless the govern- 

 ment takes the matter in hand. 



B.— REPOET FOR 1871. 



As in former years, I shall later give a full account of the course and 

 results of my practical and scientific investigations of the fisheries, and 

 shall for the present only speak briefly of my labors during the summer, 

 my chief object being a proposition to the department regarding a some- 

 what different arrangement for the next year. 



My principal aim this year was to examine the so-called " bank fish- 

 eries," which are carried on on the so called " Hav-bro" ("sea-bridge") 

 out in the open sea, 12-14 Norwegian miles from ISciudmore and Roms- 

 dalen; and I likewise intended to get all the information attainable 

 regarding the other fisheries which are carried on here, especially the 



