168 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [2] 
opinion that Foyn’s whale-fisheries had injured the capelan-fisheries, 
saw in this circumstance a further corroboration of their views, whether 
justly or not [ shall endeavor to explain below. 
As no capelan schools of any importance entered the Varanger-fiord, 
I intended to change my place of observation to one of the outer fishing 
stations, either Kiberg or Vardoe. But, unfortunately, I contracted a 
severe cold, accompanied by acute bronchitis, soon after my arrival at 
Vadsoe, probably owing to the severity of this northern climate. Iwas 
therefore compelled to stay where I was, and was prevented from mak- 
ing any further observations during the first half of my stay. After I 
had recovered from my indisposition, I visited two other points on the 
Varanger-fiord, viz, Bugones and Mortensnes. In both of these places 
I made observations and gathered information relative to the capelan- 
fisheries during this and the preceding years. Complaints were heard 
everywhere about the scarcity of bait; but whenever bait was obtained 
there was good fishing, and even exceptionably good fishing, until the 
24th of June. | . 
Foyn’s whale-fisheries did not commence till May (those of the Iar- 
fiord Company had commenced somewhat sooner), and were principally 
carried on in the outer portion of the fiord, off the coast of Kiberg and 
Vardoe and off the coast of Russia. The whales which were brought 
in were carefully examined, and information was obtained regarding the 
circumstances under which they were caught. 
On the 9th of July I left Vadsoe for the south, and arrived at Christiania 
on the 20th of the same month. 
I shall in the following state in detail the results of my observations, 
both as regards the capelan-fisheries in general, and the supposed influ- 
ence on them of the whale fisheries; but I must at the very outset di- 
rect attention to the fact that I do not consider my observations on this 
subject as completed. Many and complicated couditions have to be ex- 
amined, and even, under the most favorable circumstances, a year’s time 
would hardly be sufficient to complete this investigation. A beginning 
has at any rate been made this year, and, although there are a number 
of gaps in my investigation, I think that even now I am prepared to 
speak, with a tolerable degree of certainty, on several important and 
hitherto neglected conditions of the capelan-fisheries, as well as on the 
much discussed whale question. 
. A. 
ON THE CAPELAN-FISHERIES IN GENERAL. 
It is well known that the name “ capelan fisheries” is the technical 
term employed by the fishermen to designate the codfisheries, carried 
on during the spring months (April-June) on the coast of Finmark, 
and which are dependent on the occurrence of a smaller kind of fish, the 
capelan (Osmerus arcticus), which approaches these coasts in large num- 
