SALT-WATER FISHERIES OF NORWAY. 687 



pheuomena in the development and distribution of animal life, and 

 likewise the great aid which i)urely biological facts may furnish to 

 meteorological investigations, make it desirable that these two sciences 

 seemingly so dilferent in their character should no longer remain 

 strangers to each other, but should form an intimate union for the pur- 

 pose of each contributing its share towards the scientific solution of 

 several hitherto unexplained physical and biological x)roblem8 which 

 have greatly perplexed the man of science. 



2 — INVESTIGATION OF THE SALT-WATER FISHERIES. 



Besides making strictly scientific investigations, it was likewise in- 

 tended to observe, whenever an opportunity offered, everything which 

 might have a bearing and throw some light onour important salt-water 

 fisheries. As Professor Sars had studied our fisheries for a number of 

 years, he was commissioned to make these investigations. A number 

 of different fishing implements were therefore furnished to the expedi- 

 tion ; e, g. hooks and lines and floating nets with different sized meshes. 

 These implements could of course only be used in favorable weather, 

 when the sea was tolerably smooth, which it was hoped would be the 

 case at least part of the three months of the best season of the year oc- 

 cupied by this voyage. But the weather was unfortunately exceedingly 

 unfavorable all the time, so that these fishing implements could scarcely 

 be used at all. From the same reason another important apparatus 

 for measuring the current, chiefly intended for physico meteorological 

 observations, could not be used. During the few days that the expedi- 

 tion enjoyed fair weather, it was too near the coast to make these inves- 

 tigations specially interesting. 



Although the weather placed insurmountable hiuderances in the way 

 of the above-mentioned observations, several facts were nevertheless 

 gained, which, in Professor Sars's opinion, are of importance and will 

 serve as guides in future practical and scientific investigations of our 

 fisheries. 



The soundings show that there are several fishing-banks near our 

 coast which hitherto have been entirely unknown, and where rich fish- 

 eries might be carried on during the summer months. 



The so-called "Storegg" off the coast of the Eomsdal District has 

 from time immemorial been famous for its immense wealth of fish, and 

 there are mysterious traditions that this is not the only point where 

 similiar extensive fisheries could be carried on, but that there were 

 other rich fishing-banks far out in the ocean, "if people only were fortu- 

 nate enough to find them." 



The mystic idea of the " Havbro ", sea-bridge, has been to a great 

 extent explained by the investigations of this expedition. The " Stor- 



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