THE COD FISHERIES NEAR THE LOFFODEN ISLANDS. G35 



sonndiugs could furnisli. O bor coniitries bave fully reco^^nized tbe 

 iinportiiuc'e of 8ueb tborougb investigations. Not to speak of the grand, 

 cbiefly scieutitic investigations made by the English government, the 

 United States of North America have recently combined the most exten- 

 sive physical and zoological observations Avitb tbe surveys of their 

 eastern and southern coasts, which have already yielded many important 

 practical and scientific results. 



It is self evident that if these investigations are to be successful, and 

 are, by supplementing each other, to yield the desired result, the 

 work of sounding must be somewhat modified, so as to leave sufficient 

 time for other observations, Tbe number of soundings made within a 

 certain given time will consequently be smaller than when no other ob- 

 servations are made. But I think that these observations are so impor- 

 tant that some time might well be devoted to them. 



The expenses of this change of method would be but very small. The 

 crew of the steamer would probably have to be increased by two or three 

 men,tobe placed atmy disposal. 1 ought as regards my board to be placed 

 on the same footing as the ofilicers engaged in sounding; and as I scarcely 

 could spend all my time on the steamer during its whole cruise, my 

 traveling-expenses to and from the steamer ought to be refunded. An 

 appropriation should likewise be made for the necessary" apparatus, &c. 



0.~REPOIIT FOR 1872. 



I shall briefly report the observations made by me during the summer, 

 for which an increased appropriation had been allowed to the coast- 

 surveying expedition. 



In my preliminary report of last year on my practical and scientific 

 investigations of the bank-fisheries near Sondmore I spoke of the many 

 ditiiculties in the way of these investigations, and asked the department 

 if it was not possible to combine my observations with the systematic 

 soundings of the sea for which the government furnished a steamer. I 

 mentioned the fact that other countries, e. g., England and tbe United 

 States, had combined zoological and other scientific investigations with 

 their coast-survey. The government entered upon my ideas, and I there- 

 fore resolved to make another attempt this very summer, although the 

 location where this j'ears surveys were to be made, viz, the sea outside 

 of the Jader, is, properly speaking, beyond the limits of the well known 

 fishing banks. It was to be supposed, however, that the almost unin- 

 terrupted row of banks which extends along our western coast would 

 also stretch farther south ; that new fishing-places might thus be discov- 

 ered, and that my zoological observations would in any case yield inter- 

 esting scientific results. As that portion of the sea where the surveys 

 were to be made is in close proximity to the spring herring district I 

 was commissioned by the department also to give special attention to 

 the herring, and, if possible, to throw new light on the still somewhat 



