270 ' BEPOET OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHEEIES. [6] 



ried on at the Loflfoden Islands. These islands are situated on the west 

 coast of Norway, north of the arctic circle, and the banks in their vicin- 

 ity are the favorite resort of immense schools of cod that gather there 

 to spawn. Toward the latter i)art of December the first schools appear 

 upon the grounds along the outer side of the Lolibden group, and soon 

 the "coming-in" fish are taken on those banks lying inside, in the West 

 Fiord. The arrival of these fish, which are the forerunners of the count- 

 less millions that flivariably follow, is hailed with great delight by the 

 fishermen, many of whom resort hither from other parts of the country 

 to engage in these fisheries, so many often being congregated here in 

 the winter that at some ]3oints they are crowded. 



The bank which is the principal resort of the fishermen from Nord- 

 land extends along the coast of Lolibden from the Roost Island to the 

 Strait of Eafte. This is from three to twelve miles from the land, and 

 has a depth varying from 40 to 80 fathoms. 



The fishing is at its height in February and March, while the fish are 

 spawning. At this period, especially during the latter month, the cod 

 are said to be very restless and disinclined to take the hook, and are 

 usually caught in nets, the catch being' increased and a better quality 

 of fish obtained by using them. The experience of the iS"orwegian fish- 

 ermen shows that the fatter the fish the less it is inclined to take the 

 bait; therefore the most skilful fishermen are provided with nets as 

 well as trawls. 



The fishing is carried on in open boats. The net boats, which, as a 

 rule, are larger than those used for trawling, are from 35 to 40 feet long, 

 9 or 10 feet wide, and 3 feet deep. These are provided with a single mast, 

 on which is set a large quadrangular sail, and each boat has also ten 

 or twelve oars, by means of which the crew can row rapidly even against 

 the wind. The crew of a boat fitted for the net fishery varies from six to 

 eight men, and the number of nets from sixty to a hundred. These are 

 not all in use at the same time, but the greater part are kept in reserve 

 to supply the place of such as may need repairs or drying or which may 

 be lost. From twenty to thirty-five nets are fastened together and set 

 in a gang by each boat on a specified part of the fishing ground. Where 

 so many are fishing at one place they are obliged to adopt some rule for 

 setting the gear to prevent its fouling, since t^iat would result in loss to 

 all and soon render a valuable fishery i)ractically worthless. A certain 

 part of the fishing ground is therefore assigned for the nets and an- 

 other part for the trawls, as it is evident they should not be set together. 

 The nets are prej^ared for setting by fastening them together at the top 

 and bottom, attaching the sinkers, and bending on the large anchor- 

 stones in the manner already alluded to, which is shown^in Plates V, VI, 

 and VII. The nets are so arranged that they will set close to the 

 bottom or at some distance above it, according to the position of the 

 fish. 



