[49J 



THE LOFFODEN FISHERY IN 1880. 



581 



The observations this year liave indeed been few, although they were 

 begun the same day or the day after the lishing comnienced. Although 

 the frequent and soinetiuies considerable and irregular falling and rising 

 of the warm water scarcely allow any hope of a practical result, and in 

 spite of the little encouraging conclusions whereto the j ear's observa- 

 tions have led, it is my intention to continue these observations as far as 

 time allows. 



Table XLVII shows how many livers made a barrel at ditferent 

 times during the fishery. The numbers above the line indicate those 

 taken in nets, below the line those caught by lines. Compared with 

 the four preceding years the fish this year have been distinctly fatter, 

 and, es{)ecially, they have retained their fatness longer than usual. 

 The increased i^roportion of liver in the districts of Stamsund and 

 Sorvaagen at the close of February was associated with the excellent 

 fishing there, and seems to indicate a new arrival (offish). The stated 

 proportion of liver at the end of the first week of March to the quantity 

 of fish htis not been so great in any of the four preceding years at the 

 same time; and one may i^ossibly, from this longer-retained i)roportion 

 of liver, draw the conclusion that the East LofiToden fishery in March is 

 due to the incoming of new fish and not to an afflux from West Lofib- 

 den. The observations are, however, higldy uncertain, and cannot be 

 otherwise; so it is difficult to base any decision upon them. On the 

 average oSa cod are estimated to iiave yielded one barrel of livers, or 

 78 pois (0.05 barrel) of oil. Acconling to the inspection tables, the 

 jtroiiortion between fish and liver has been as follows: 



1S(;{) 

 1S70 



1871 

 1872 

 1873 



1874 



Cort. 



450 



350 



400 



350 



390 



400 



An average of 400 to the l)arrel of liver and GOO to a barrel of oil 

 Table XLVII. — Naniher of licers in a barrel. 



1875 

 1870 

 1877 

 1878 

 1870 

 1880 



Cod. 

 440 

 415 

 425 

 420 

 420 

 385 



