158 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [82] 
This year the temperature at the surface varied from 29.5 to 6° C., 
while the temperature at the surface varied from 39.5 to 69 C. The tem- 
perature at a greater depth varied as follows: At a depth of 38 to 42 
meters, from 4°.2 to 69.9 C.; at 51 to 53 meters from 4°.8 to 79.3 C.; at 62 
to 66 meters, from 4°.7 to 5°.5 C.; at 76 meters, from 5°.1 to 6° C.; and 
at 119 to 123 meters, from 6°.5 to 69.7 C. Ata depth of 132 meters the 
temperature was found to be 69.9 C., and at 189 meters 79.1 C.—(See 
table of temperature.) 
In the first place, therefore, the temperature has varied much more 
than Boeck reported, viz, 24° C., at a depth of 51 to 53 meters, and, in 
the second place, it has this year been higher than any which Boeck has 
given. 
In his work “Om Silden og Sildefiskerierne,” Boeck speaks of a peculiar 
phenomenon observed in the sea between Hangesund and Udsire, viz, 
that the water near Réver, at a certain depth, about 20 fathoms, seemed 
to be so cold that its temperature was only about 3° C., whilst farther 
out, not far from Udsire, where there was a pretty strong current from 
south to north, it was much warmer, viz, over 4° C. Boeck was pre- 
vented by sickness from making further observations of this strange 
phenomenon. If further observations should show this statement to be 
correct, Boeck thinks that this warm current must be a branch of the 
Gulf Stream, and he inclines to the opinion that in these waters the her- 
ring follow such a branch of the Gulf Stream towards the coast, partic- 
ularly as the herring always approach the coast between Udsire and 
Rover, where the warm current, mentioned by him, is found. Near Ro- 
ver, Boeck found the so-called ‘ whale food” (Clione limacina Phipps), 
an animal generally occurring much farther north, near Finmark, and 
which was once discovered by Prof. G. O. Sars, near the Lofoden Isl- 
ands (at Skroven). In the polar seas it is found in enormous masses. 
Boeck supposes that this clione was carried south by a cold polar cur- 
rent flowing nearer the coast than the Gulf Stream. 
During my visit to the fishing stations, I one day—the 9th March— 
when the weather was calm, carefully examined the temperature of the 
water from Udsire to Rover (and on the 11th of March, as far as Han- 
gesund), both at the depths given by Boeck, in other depths, and near 
the surface. The result of these observations is given in a list below. 
At adepth of about 20 fathoms (38 meters), between Udsire and Urter, 
the temperature varied from 4°.3 to 4°.5 C.; on the side of Urter towards 
téver, the temperature was 4°.4 C., at a depth of 32 meters (bottom); 
a little (one-eighth Norwegian mile) farther out, towards Rover, it was 
4°.2 at a depth of 38 meters; one-fourth Norwegian mile distant from 
Urter, in the direction of Rover, it was, at the same depth, 49.5 C.; and 
from there to Réver and Hangesund it varied from 49.5 C. to 49.4 C. 
I must say that, in my opinion, my observations have not corroborated 
Boeck’s statement, not even as to the temperature taken at the same 
