iSç^- >^0. 9. HYDK.-BIOL. STIDIES OF THE NORW. FISHERIES. 



over 2000 fathoms in depth. »The Coasts of Nonvay, «says Mohn^, »shelve 

 neither perpendicular nor evenly down to the depths of the Arctic Sea, 

 but the bottom first slopes gradually downwards from the coast outwards, 

 after which, at a greater or lesser distance, and at a depth of about 200 

 fathoms, it forms an edge, from which it descends comparatively steeply 

 down to the bed of the deeper ocean. Between the great depths and 

 the coast there thus lies a comparatively slightly sloping rampart which 

 encircles the Norwegian Coasts like a continuous girdle, and is in no 

 part intersected by any channel from the great deep in towards the 

 coast or its fjords. This forms the Norwegian Coastal Banks. If the 

 line of depth marking 200 fathoms be followed see Chart of Depths, I), 

 one will see that, in all parts, it keeps away from the coast. It sends a 

 short arm into the Norwegian Channel, which from Stat goes round the 

 West Coast and into the Skagerak ; and which, off the Hardanger Fjord, 

 is but 120 fathoms in depth. It approaches the coast off Romsdal, at the 

 part were the bank is called Stor-Egen. It retires ven.^ far- from the 

 coast of Helgeland, but aproaches again off \"esteraalen, where, it comes 

 nearest to Norway, but only to turn out once more from the land 

 in a direction due North, a direction which, after a turn into the Eastern 

 Sea, again continues to the Westward of Beeren Eiland and Spitzbergen.« 

 On comparing the Chart of Depths I, with :\Iohn's description, in which 

 depths exceeding 200 fathoms are coloured dark blue, one will obtain 

 a clear comprehension of the conditions of the depths, and^the extent of 

 the coastal banks. It will, moreover, be seen from the chart, that shallower 

 spots will be found above the banks, coloured with a light, or a dark brown 

 tint, which the fishermen as a rule call Banks, and Avhich are of the 

 greatest importance to our fisheries. 



If we now investigate the bed of the ocean itself, and the physical 

 conditions of the great Arctic Ocean, it will at once became apparent that 

 the conditions in the great ocean depths are extremely different from 

 those of the lesser depths (200 — 300 fathoms), and, therefore, also from the 

 conditions on the coastal banks. 



Down in the great deep the bottom is found to consist of soft ooze 

 (Biloculina clay) 2. The water there is icy cold, its temperature being 



^ See C. F. Schübeier »Viridarium norvegicumt. Published as University Procrranime. 

 Christiania 1S85 — 1S91. 



2 See »Den norske Nordhavsexpedition« (The Norwegian Northern Ocean Expedition). L. 

 Schmelck »Om havbundens afleiringert (Concerning the Deposits on the Sea Bottom). 

 Christiania 1SS2. 



