[59] 



THE LOFFODEN FISHERY IN If 



591 



trawl-lines. On the 8th of March exceptionally good tishing began at 

 all stations from Hopen eastward to and including OstiiiEsfjord; west- 

 ward there was good fishing, also, everywhere until the 10th, when it 

 became poor at stations from Balstacl westward; at the remaining sta- 

 tions the good fishing continued until the lUth, after which date it was 

 poor everywhere. In East Loftoden there was an especially good fish- 

 ery from March 14 to the 20th, during which week 8,750,000 fish were 

 taken, the largest week's catch known to have be«n made. The East 

 Loffoden fishing closed, so far as Ostnaisfjord is concerned, on the 20th, 

 and at the remaining stations about a week later. At the close of March 

 fishing began again to be sufficiently good, though irregular, from Hen- 

 ningsvier westward. It was, however, not i)ermanent, except at the 

 first-named station au<l in the region from Sund westward, where it was 

 quite good exen until the middle of Ai)ril. 



A peculiarity of this year's fishery was that the cod almost from the 

 beginning remained near the shore ; besides, they were found near the 

 surface, and most of the fishing was done at depths of oO to 40 tatlioms, 

 and sometimes less. Their presence in not inconsiderable numbers was 

 proven, also, in many places inside the reef, where they ordinarily sel- 

 dom appear, as at Islsendingen, near Sund, and in various coves of 

 Buksniesfjord. On a voyage from Stamsund to Balberg Islan<ls, on 

 March 17, the inspection employes ol)served in many places, where the 

 depth allowed the bottom to be seen, fish as large as cod, all of which 

 were moving northward and towards the land. 



Table LXI gives the percentage of fishing days on which there has 

 been good fishing in the different inspection districts. 



Tablk LXI a. 



*N'ot u.sed from tho middle of March. tLittle used. 



The course of the fishery this year a])pears at first view to indicate a 

 movement of the schools of fish first from east to west, then from west 

 to east, and finally again from east to west, sint^e the fishing, which was 



