580 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



The weather has likewise a great influence on the conduct of the cod- 

 fish during its going out. With steady coast-wind, accorapanied by 

 cold weather, the codfish chooses the shortest way to the deep; and if 

 the contrary is the case, it likes to follow the westerly elevations of the 

 bottom. It is highly probable that the temperature of the sea-water, 

 which is naturally dependent on the weather, has a good deal to do 

 with this. 



Although the codfish have been observed to keep much higher in the 

 water while going out than while coming in, it is probable that they 

 nevertheless go very much according to the formation of the bottom, 

 even if they do not follow exactly the same way they came. It has 

 thus been observed that where they have gone up very deep fiords, they 

 followed one side of the fiord in coming in, and the other in going out. 

 On this circumstance, together with the peculiar formation of the bot- 

 tom, the very rich fisheries depend, which in certain years occur during 

 the going out near the fishing-station of Folstad on the eastern shore of 

 the Ostnasfiord. 



The clayey ravine, 100 fathoms wide, which at the mouth of the fiord 

 occupies nearly its whole breadth, is divided into two branches almost 

 opposite Folstad ; these two branch ravines surround an extensive stony 

 bottom lying in the middle of the fiord, and run very near the eastern 

 and western shores, which they follow for a considerable distance, till 

 farther up the fiord they are interrupted by a shallow ravine (oulj^ 6 to 

 8 fathoms deep) stretching obliquely across the fiord at its narrowest 

 place. The inner portion of the fiord forms an isolated basin, which in 

 its eastern part, near the fishing-station of Liland, is 60 to 78 fathoms 

 deep. This part, called Lilaudspollen, is known as an excellent fishing 

 place, and is one of the principal spawning places of the codfish. 



When the spawning is over, the codfish go again across the oblique 

 ravine, but nearer to the eastern shore, following the deep east ravine in 

 a southerly direction, and gather in large masses near the peninsula of 

 Folstadland, which stretches far out into the fiord. When going out, 

 the codfish seem to bo in a much greater hurry than when coming in, 

 and there has never been an instance of their keeping perfectly still for 

 any length of time during their going out, while this is a common oc- 

 currence during their coming in. This period of going out is the very 

 time when there is the best fishing, and in a few days as many fish are 

 caught as during the rest of the fishing-season. 



Nets have proved particularly useful at this season, and might even 

 be used more extensively, as not the least injury to the future fisheries 

 may be apprehended from them, while the case is very difierent during 

 the period of coming in. 



Eegarding the further fate of the tender fry, I have not been able to 

 learn much. After the young fish have left the eggs, they have no con- 

 trol over themselves, but are driven hither and thither by wind and 

 waves. Only after the umbilical bag has disappeared, and tlyi fins have 



