176 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [10] 
lan-fisheries seem to be still more uncertain. In going over the different 
fish-reports, and examining the condition of the fisheries in previous years, 
I found ample proof of this assertion, and there have even been years 
when the Varanger-fiord fisheries proved an entire failure, the capelan 
either staying away altogether or not advancing beyond Sibergnas, 
where the Varanger-fiord proper commences. According to the official 
reports this has been the case during the years 1869, 1871, and 1876, and 
the present year must also be classed among the years when the cape- 
lan only enter the Varanger-fiord in small and scattered schools. Old 
fishermen say that in former times there were also years when no cape- 
lan came near the coast. Even if such is the case, however, some fish- 
ing is going on, as the “ capelan-cod,” before leaving the coast, likes to 
follow the raised portion of the bottom as far as possible. I had occa- 
sion during the present year to observe this circumstance. Although 
the great mass of capelan which, after passing Vardoe, approached 
the coast, evidently took their course from Kiberg across the mouth of 
the fiord towards the coast of Russia (where they were observed soon 
afterwards), a considerable number nevertheless entered the Varanger- 
fiord at Vadsoe, but more especially at Bugénes, where on certain days, 
when bait (herring) could be obtained, there was very good fishing 
(about 14 tons of liver per boat). But the lack of bait brought the fish- 
eries toa stand-still, and it is probable that a large number of cod would 
during this year have been caught in the Varanger district if there had 
been asufiicient quantity of bait. It is greatly tobe deplored that, after 
the experience of former years, no measures were taken to supply this 
urgent want, A swift steamer, which could have supplied the fisheries 
in the fiord with bait from Vardoe or the nearest fishing-stations having 
plenty of capelan, would doubtless have proved an inestimable advant- 
age. I have no doubt that even with preserved capelan or herring 
(packed in ice or slightly salted) large numbers of cod might have been 
eaught. It is stated that attempts made in this direction in former years 
have proved unsuccessful, but in making these statements no regard 
seems to have been had for the peculiar circumstances under which 
these attempts were made. When the sea is full of capelan, it is quite 
natural that the cod prefers the fresh capelan to preserved fish. In 
years like the present, however, when but few, if any, capelan are found 
near the fishing-stations, the cod will doubtless take to the bait, even if 
it is not fresh fish.* I myself have seen a large quantity of cod caught 
near Bugdnes with herring which were so old and soft that they could 
hardly be fastened to the hooks, which shows that the cod was not over 
nice in the matter of food. As lines are almost exclusively used in the 
Varanger-fiord cod-fisheries (not hand-lines as at most of the other fish- 
ing-stations), it cannot be considered a misfortune, but rather the con- 
trary, that there are so few capelan during the fishing-season, as it 
*It is well known that in the Loffoden fisheries salt herring are almost exclusively 
used for line fishing. 
