[5] THE FINMARK CAPELAN-FISHERIES. ues 
1846, good fishing west of Tsypnavolok. 
1847-1848, average fisheries. 
1849, poor. 
1850, poor. 
1851-1857, exceptionally good. 
1858-1859, not as good as formerly. 
1860, good in the beginning ; afterwards poor. 
1867, the best fisheries within man’s memory. 
1868, the same. 
I shall below give a number of statistical data regarding the capelan- 
fisheries in the Varanger-fiord, showing that there, too, the capelan-fish- 
eries have varied considerably from year to year. The approach of the 
capelan is noticed at a considerable distance from the shore by the 
columns of steam rising from the pursuing whales, and by enormous 
numbers of birds, mostly kitti-wakes (Larus tridactylus). At the same 
time, or somewhat later, the so-called capelan cod begins to appear in 
large numbers, voraciously devouring the capelan. These codfish differ 
from the common winter codfish by their brighter color, their larger 
livers, and their sexual organs, which are but little developed. Their 
size varies a good deal, much more so than is the case with the common 
cod (Gadus morrhua). The schools of capelan evidently consist of in- 
dividuals of very: different age, from the so-called “smaagjed” (small 
pike) to old codfish. The enormous numbers in which they appear ex- 
clude the idea that these schools are only those fish which live near 
the coast or in the waters immediately outside the respective coast. 
They evidently contain fish which have gathered from a wide extent of 
sea, and the opinion seems very plausible that they have gathered by 
degrees during the migrations of the capelan schools towards the coast. 
The important discovery, made during our last expedition, of the widely 
extended Polar Sea barrier, taken in connection with the direct observa- 
tions of the frequent occurrence of cod near the Bear Island, has led me 
to the opinion—mentioned in my report above referred to, and further 
corroborated in this report—that both the Loffoden-cod and the capelan- 
cod have their home near said barrier; and up to the present time I have 
seen no reason to change this opinion. By direct comparison I have 
convinced myself that the Finmark capelan-cod is the same fish as the 
cod found near the Bear Island and Spitzbergen; and I have already, in 
the report referred to, mentioned an interesting observation which seems 
directly to prove the identity of the two fish. 
The spawning-season of the capelan, like that of other fish, extends 
over a tolerably long period, the schools which arrive first spawning much 
earlier than those which arrive later. The earliest date when I noticed 
spawning this year was during the first days in May. Among a num- 
ber of specimens captured in the Busse sound, near Vardoe, on the 5th of 
May, and sent to me for examination, were several which had almost 
done spawning, and in the stomach of a few I found recently-emitted 
roe. At the fishing-station north of Vardoe spawning probably com- 
