THE COD FISHERIES NEAR THE LOFFODEN ISLANDS. 621 



ia catcliing auy of tbem, I had not tbe least doubt that tbese were 

 young herring, and that they formed the food not only of the above- 

 mentioned large marine animals, but also of the pollack and the cod, 

 and that this was the reason why they would no longer take the bait 

 offered to them. 



By examining the stomachs of some of the fish caught at this time 

 (both pollack and cod), I found them crammed full, no longer with 

 sand-eels, but with young herring. The herring is a more uncertain fish 

 than the sand-eel, and it was purely accidental if any of them ap- 

 proached the coast. The great mass of them generally kept far out on 

 the Westflord, and I have reason to suppose that both the pollack and 

 the cod followed them ; and that the entire failure of the pollack-fisheries 

 at this period, as well as the unusual scarcity of other fish near the coast, 

 could be ascribed to this cause. 



Before I left the Loffoden I wished to make observations in some other 

 localities, and for several reasons I selected the two stations of Risvser 

 and Brettesnaes, lying east of Skraaven. I staid longest at tbe first- 

 mentioned i)lace, which I had not yet visited, because it seemed to 

 afford special interest in my investigations. It is one of those fishing- 

 stations east of the Eaft Sound, which have long since been deserted, 

 but wbich were much frequented in olden times. About 30-10 years 

 ago rich winter-fisheries were carried on here every year. At pres- 

 ent only one family lives here, but traces may still be seen of the 

 many fishers' huts which served as places of shelter to the numerous 

 fishermen who came here. The place must have offered many special 

 advantages for fishing. The fishermen had not to go out very far ; and 

 from the windows of the houses they could distinctly be seen hauling in 

 their nets. jSTumerous outer islands afforded ample protection against 

 the sea, more so than in most other fishing-stations. It might seem 

 premature to give any definite opinion as to the cause of the decline of 

 the fisheries. I shall, however, at the end of my report refer to it, and 

 give my view of the matter, as well as some facts which might be of 

 weight. For the present I shall simply report the course of my obser- 

 vations in this place. 



My first object was of course to ascertain whether the young of the 

 winter-cod were found here in as large numbers and under the same con- 

 ditions as in those places where the winter-fisheries proper are carried 

 on. By conversing with the people of the place I got all the informa- 

 tion I desired. The young of the winter-cod is well known here. It is 

 found all through summer in large numbers, and this very year the fish- 

 ing for this fish had been quite successful. The fish that were caught 

 measured, on an average, one foot in length, and were, therefore, one- 

 year-old fish. They were caught so readily that even two men going out 

 with their lines would in a comparatively short time have their boat 

 quite full. During the first days of my sojourn I likewise caught many 

 fish, both on the algse bottoms and everywhere among the islands. As 



