700 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



"Store;?g" and the " Lofot-egg," these lines are close together, while 

 north and south of these places they diverge again. Even in a curve 

 of 1,500 fathoms depth the two indentations are distinctly marked. 



It follows from this that near Romsdal and the Loffoden Islands, the 

 submarine barrier slopes very suddenly toward the great outer deep, 

 while in other places tbe slope is more gradual. And in connection 

 with tbis the bottom is of an essentially different character. Wherever 

 the slope is gradual there is a good deal of loose materia!, clay or mud, 

 but where it is abrupt there was no chance for any loose material to 

 gather, and we find generally only Arm rock, bowlders, pebbles, or coarse 

 gravel. It is the very kind of bottom which the fishermen designate as 

 a good fishing-bottom ; and wherever this bottom is found far out at 

 sea, there are large numbers of codfish, ling, cask, and halibut, while 

 the soft clay bottom is by no means so productive, and is chiefly inhab- 

 ited by skates, dog-fish, and similar fish. 



The new barrier which we discovered near the Loffoden Islands and 

 Vesteraalen possesses all the essential conditions for serving as a place 

 of sojourn for large masses of the above-mentioned important species of 

 fish ; and not only the barrier itself, but all the inner coast- waters near 

 it possess similar advantages. The place where the " Lofot-egg " is 

 nearest the coast is near the northern point of the island of Lango, about 

 four miles from the land. We thought it best in this place to stop our 

 sounding operations for a while and make a few observations of a more 

 practical nature. Although the current was very strong, driving the 

 ship forward, we nevertheless succeeded very soon, by means of our 

 lines and hooks, in furnishing direct proof of the wealth of fish in this 

 easily-accessible place. Among the considerable number of fish which 

 soon lay sprawling on deck there were large codfish, ling, cusk, and hali- 

 but, therefore all the characteristic species of bank-fish. All this portion 

 of the coast-waters from the heights of Eost till north of Tromso will 

 doubtless furnish suitable places for rich bank-fishing during summer, 

 and rich hauls will be made on the barrier itself, whose exact location 

 has now been determined and has been marked on the map. As this 

 barrier is nearly along its whole length nearer to the coast than the 

 " Stor-egg," the practical value of these waters for fishing will be albthe 

 greater. 



It has already been mentioned that the physical conditions of the 

 " Lofot-egg" very closely resemble those of the " Storegg." We also find 

 another very significant resemblance: Along the coasts inside of these 

 barriers very extensive spring cod-fisheries are carried on during win- 

 ter. The cod-fisheries near Aalesuud have long been famous, but they 

 can bear no comparison with the immense Loffoden fisheries, which are 

 sure every year. It might, in this connection, not be out of place to ask 

 the old and much-disputed question, " Where do the codfish come from?" 

 It is well known that not only fishermen but also naturalists have 

 generally inclined to the opinion that the codfish come a long distance 



