VI.-REPORTS MADE TO THE DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 

 OF INVESTIGATIONS OF THE SALT-WATER FISHERIES OF 

 NORWAY DURING THE YEARS 1874-1877.* 



By Prof. G. O. Sars. 



I. 

 EEPORT FOE 1874. 



As there is an item in the appropriation bill for next year for the prac- 

 tical and scientific investigations of the fisheries, I shall give a brief 

 report of the observations made by me this year, and I shall also give 

 my opinion as to how they should be continued. 



As I mentioned in a former report to the department, it was my origi- 

 nal intention this year to investigate the fisheries in Finmarken. It 

 was my opinion that these investigations should be made chiefly in the 

 months of March, April, and May ; but as Professor Easch had sent in 

 his resignation in the beginning of the year I had to abandon this plan, 

 aince my office as assistant professor of zoology obliged me as long as 

 the professorship was vacant to attend to its duties, lectures, and ex- 

 aminations, which could not be taken by any one else. I had thus no 

 time at my command before the beginning of the midsummer vacation, 

 L e., the end of June. But as already the year before reports had been 

 made to the department by the governor of Finmarken by fishermen and 

 several gentlemen interested in the fisheries, all expressing the fear that 

 the whale fisheries, which during the last years had been carried on in 

 the Varanger fiord by S. Foyn, might exercise a hurtful influence on the 

 other fisheries, and since the department had at the same time been re- 

 quested to have this matter investigated as soon as possible by a com- 

 petent scientist, I thought that I must adhere to my original plan and 

 make my investigations this year in Finmarken. It is true that the 

 general fisheries had closed everywhere by the time I could leave my 

 duties at the university, but on the other hand it was the most conven- 

 ient season for investigating Foyn's whale fisheries, as they are chiefly 

 carried on during the months of July and August. As I moreover ex- 

 pected to make some preliminary observations on the general fisheries, 

 which I considered necessary before the direct investigations could be 

 commenced, I concluded to proceed to Finmarken, even if I should get 

 there at a time when no important fisheries were carried on. 



* Indberetninger til Departmentet for det Indre fra Professor Dr. G. O. Sara om d© 

 afhanii Aarene 1874-1877 anstillede Undereogelser vedkommende Saltvandafiskerieme. 

 Christiania, 1873. Translated by Herman Jaeobson. 



