{23] © THE GREAT BOHUS-LAN HERRING FISHERIES. 121 
on a large scale) difficult, and probably practically impossible. It must 
be remembered that drag-net fisheries must be carried on at night, as 
during daytime the herring do not go into the nets. 
As regards the proper place for such experiments, it would not be ad- 
visable to confine oneself to that portion of the Skagerack which is near- 
est to the coast of Bohus-lan ; but these experiments should be extended 
to more distant portions of the Skagerack and to the adjoining portions 
of the North Sea and the Kattegat. 
As regards the quality of the boats and nets, our Bohus-lin macke- 
rel boats will be well adapted to the purpose’ during the mild season, 
whilst for winter stronger and more comfortable boats, such as are 
used by the Yarmouth fishermen, are required. Suitable nets can be 
ordered in England. The proposition, which has been made several 
times, to employ Swedish drag-nets and boats from our southern prov- 
inces (Skdne and Blekinge) shows an utter ignorance of the subject. The 
net must correspond to the capacity of the boat; and the open boats 
used by our Skane and Blekinge fishermen, adapted as they are to the 
waters where they are used, are too weak for the Skagerack with its 
waves and violent storms. 
As regards the extent and the benefit to science of the experiments 
with drag-nets, it is evident that, if they are to yield any valuable 
results, they must be made by a number of boats, properly superintended 
and continued for a number of years. The experiments made with 
Dutch, Scotch, and German herring boats, with the view of gaining a 
more extended knowledge of the herring and its habits, have shown 
very clearly that no great results may be looked for from experiments 
made with one or only afew boats, manned with sailors who are entirely 
unacquainted with the peculiarities of the Skagerack. In order to gain 
more rapid results and to save labor, as also to better superintend the 
experiments, a Steamship would be exceedingly useful. 
(3.) The introduction of drag-nets as one of the apparatus for catching 
herring in the Skagerack.—lf drag-net fisheries in the open sea are to 
be made profitable there is required (1) that an even and good kind of 
herring, which, both fresh and prepared, can fetch a sufficient price to 
pay the great expenses of such fisheries, shall come regularly and plenti- 
fully during a considerable portion of the year; (2) that the fishermen 
*Herring fisheries carried on in the open sea during winter with drag-nets have 
not flourished in any place where they were introduced. See O. N. LOBERG: Nor- 
ges Fiskerier, Christiania, 1864, p. 36.—Report by the Commissioners of the Fishery Board, 
Scotland, of their proceedings in the year ended December 31, 1880, Ediuburgh, 1881, p. 4; 
“The winter herring fishery did not contribute much to the returns of the year. A 
herring fishery can never be prosecuted at that season upon the outer coasts of Scot- 
land, except at intervals, the frequent severity of the weather preventing it.” 
®As also for the fisheries in the few fiords on our coast where it can be done. See 
C. U. Exstrim: Praktisk afhandling om limpligaste sdttet att fiska sill, torsk, ldnga, 
makrill, hummer och ostron ;” Stockholm, 1845, pp. 98, 99, and A. V. LruNGMAN: ‘‘ Prelimi- 
ndr berittelse for 1873-74, dfver de betrdffande sillen och sillfisket vid Sveriges vestkust an- 
atilda undersikningarna. Upsala, 1874, pp. 68, 69. 
