[7] BOHUS-LAN SEA FISHERIES AND THEIR FUTURE. 95 
hus-lin twenty-five years ago (this was written in 1831), and were to see 
it again at the present time would hardly be able to refrain from shed- 
ding tears. Twenty-five years ago our coast presented a lovely picture. 
- Massive and costly walls and bulwarks supporting extensive salt-houses 
and oil-refineries rose from the very sea; further inland could be seen 
spacious warehouses and busy workshops, and on the brow of the hills 
handsome residences and small but comfortable houses for the fisher- 
men and mechanics. The shore swarmed with people, and the sea was 
crowded with white sails. Every night the coast presented a magnifi- 
cent scene, when the many thousand lights were reflected in the waves. 
Everywhere there was life and bustle, and the revenues were counted 
by tons of gold. Now, nothing remains of all this splendor but bare 
ruins. Here and there is seen a dilapidated cottage, which awakens the 
same feelings in the visitor as a neglected cemetery. Would that the 
former times so ardently sighed and prayed for by many thousands of 
people might soon return!” 
With the beginning of the winter 1877~'78, the genwine sea-herring, 
which had been observed near Skagen since the autumn of 1875, again 
came to the coast of Bohus-lan in large numbers; and as last year they 
began to come earlier and go further south than during the previous 
year, it seems evident that the old and well-known eycle repeats itself. 
It remains to briefly indicate those measures which should be taken 
in order to derive the greatest possible benefit from that source of wealth 
which the return of the herring to our coast has opened, and to further 
the development of other sea fisheries in connection with that of the 
herring. 
As regards the method of preparing herring, the selection of the 
proper place for the necessary establishments is of great importance. 
The experience gained during the former herring periods indicates — 
clearly that the central portion of the coast (the coast from Marstrand 
to Soten) offers on the whole the most favorable locations for such estab- 
lishments during the entire herring period; whilst the southern coast 
is most favorable during that part of the period when the herring come 
early during the year, and are particularly well suited for salting. The . 
northern coast, where the herring come towards the end of the year, 
and where they frequently stay longest, is therefore very well suited for 
Selling fresh herring for immediate consumption. As the herring, how- 
ever, during the greater portion of the period when they éome late in 
the year, do not come regularly every year to the Gottenburg coast, and 
as only those herring which are caught towards the close of autumn 
can be bought at a price which allows of their being used on a large 
seale for the manufacture of oil, glue, manure, &c., it is evident that 
the central coast is best suited for such establishments, and next to it 
the northern coast, where the herring come later, and are, on the whole, 
somewhat leaner. 
As regards the different ways of preparing herring, it needs no proof 
that it will be most advantageous to utilize the herring in every pos- 
