OF ALL COUNTRIES. 67 



the labours of Professor Sars. Their favourite resort in 

 Noi"way during the seasons of their advent is Bergen, the 

 capital of the south-western district, at no great distance 

 from the beautiful Hardanger Fjord. The herrings, however, 

 when they arrive make up for their absence by the magni- 

 tude of their shoals, giving employment to some 6000 boats 

 and 30,000 men. Oysters are found in abundance in the 

 Christiana Fjord ; and, as many an English tourist well 

 knows, salmon frequent the rivers and rushing streams, 

 though even their saltatory powers are not equal to such 

 leaps as the Riukan or Voring Voss would require. 



In the mackerel fishery, according to the report of M. Her- 

 mann Baars, Special Commissioner of Norwegian Fisheries 

 and Navigation, each boat produces from about 1000 to 

 3000 each night, but by the barrage nets the fishermen 

 sometimes catch 10,000 to 20,000 in a single haul. This 

 fishery has been so much developed the last few years,, 

 that it now counts about 2500 boats, which have caught 

 from 30 to 35,000,000 of fish during a season. This 

 immense abundance is preserved in ice and sent to England ;. 

 and the roe oi the mackerel consumed in Norway, as well 

 as the cod roe, are sent to France as bait for sardines. 

 Lobsters are of great importance in the northern districts 

 of Norway. They not only supply highly-prized food for 

 the population, but also an export of commerce amounting 

 to not less than from 700,000 to 800,000 francs a year in 

 addition to crab fish. Oysters are distributed all along the 

 coast from Namsen Fjord to Christiana Fjord. Banks of 

 large extent supply the wants of the country ; but through 

 ignorance or negligence many have been destroyed or ex- 

 hausted. Men are beginning, however, better to understand 

 their value. Existing banks are treated with much more 

 care ; oyster culture is becoming more general ; and there 



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