598 EEPOr.T OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



the deep water. lu order to catch larger young codfish, I must therefore 

 seek a more suitable locality and supply myself with the proper fishing 

 implements. By means of a tolerably large purge-net which could be 

 let down to the depth of several fathoms, and herring as bait, I suc- 

 ceeded during the following days in catching some of the older codfish. 

 When the weather was sufiBcieutly calm and the water clear, I could 

 easily observe them. The larger they were, the decider did they keep 

 themselves swimming about with their belly pressing against the bot- 

 tom. Only with great difficulty I could by means of bait entice them 

 higher up, while the young pollack both large and small were swimming 

 about near the surface. 



Thus these two kinds of fish show their different nature even at this 

 early period. The codfish distinguishes itself from the pollack by being 

 a genuine bottom-fish. We may also see in this circumstance the first 

 indication of the " going out" of the young codfish. As they grow older 

 and larger they probably gradually seek a greater depth of water, until 

 they meet their progenitors in the great deep outside the coast. The 

 larger young codfish which I caught in the above-mentioned manner a 

 few days before my departure, i. e., in the beginning of October, meas- 

 ured 120-130 millimeters, or upwards of four inches in length, and could 

 at most be scarcely considered more than seven mouths old. From this 

 time on they probably grow more rapidly, and I therefore presume that 

 it scarcely takes more than three or at most four years till they return 

 to their native place as full grown codfish, to give birth in their turn to 

 millions of young fish. 



In the above I have simply given a report on the history and the 

 results of my observations during the last two years, and I shall add a 

 few remarks. There are probably many who, after having read the 

 above, will say, "All this may be quite interesting to read, but of what 

 practical use is it? Does the government for those sums which are 

 spent on these practical and scientific investigations get the value of its 

 money ? " It will be useless to argue the question with those who ex- 

 pected important practical results from the first year's investigations, 

 just as if such results were ready made and only waited to be brought 

 to light. I hope, hov^ever, that there are some persons who, from the 

 very beginning, have looked at the matter in the right light, and who 

 have become familiarized with the thought that practical results can 

 only be reached by a thorough scientific investigation, and can only b^ 

 considered as actual results when they rest on a firm scientific founda- 

 tion. These persons will understand me when I explain to them my 

 views of the whole matter. I consider it necessary in every extensive 

 investigation, especially when, as in the present case, a new field has to 

 be entered, that, first of all, the object of the investigation is fully and 

 clearly understood ; and that, secondly, a well-defined plan is followed. 



To plunge at once in medias res, and enter upon suppositions before 

 any firm basis has been gained, may look well enough to the casual ob- 



