[21] THE GREAT BOHUS-LAN HERRING FISHERIES. 119 
compensate them for the losses which such an event will cause even 
under the most favorable circumstances. 
It is well known that during the herring periods agriculture was 
sadly neglected in Bohus-lin; but this undoubted evil would be greatly 
lessened, if not altogether remedied, by opening new ways of communica- 
tion, which would benefit not only the fisheries but also the agricultural 
interests, and by concentrating the herring industry in a limited num- 
ber of towns, which would become good markets for agricultural pro- 
duce. As agriculture advances, it will be better able than hitherto to 
compete with the herring fisheries in engaging labor. Much of the re- 
fuse from the herring industry could be utilized in agriculture to a much 
higher degree than is the case at the present time; and a great deal 
might be accomplished in this direction if the government would make 
investigations and experiments relative to this matter, and publish the 
results. 
The importance of the above considerations should not be underrated for 
the reason that none of those evils which beset the fisheries during the last 
century have as yet made their appearance; for they can hardly be loooked 
for until the herring fisheries have in the course of years reached a high 
degree of development. 
As in the above I have only mentioned such measures whose bene- 
ficial influence cannot be doubted, and which would prove beneficial! to 
other industries after the close of the herring period, I feel convinced 
that they will receive the attention which they deserve. 
Tjérn, December 12, 1881. 
AXEL VILHELM LJUNGMAN. 
APPENDIX. 
ip 
ATTEMPTS TO CATCH HERRING WITH DRAG-NETS. 
To the Council of State and the Chief of the Department of the Interior : 
In reply to a request by telegram of the 9th instant, to give my opin- 
ion as to the desirability and practicability of attempts to catch herring 
in the Skagerack with drag-nets, with the view of increasing our knowl- 
edge of the herring, and as to the benefit such attempts would confer 
onthe Bohus-liin herring fisheries, I have the honor to report as follows :® 
(1.) The importance to science and industry of attempts with drag-nets.— 
6The great haste with which this report had to be drawn up, under the most unfa- 
vorable circumstances, must serve as an excuse for its fragmentary character. The 
same subje@ has been treated more fully in the article in the Gottenburg Handels-och 
Sjofarts-Tidning, referred to below. 
