182 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [16] 
if it is to preserve its present character. Any violent disturbance of* 
this equilibrium will, under all circumstances, be fraught with danger, 
as we do not know what further consequences it may produce. The de- 
sire to preserve the whale-fisheries for our descendants ought likewise 
to prevent people from engaging in a useless war of extermination 
against these animals. 
(6.) As during the last few years the whale-fisheries have been carried 
on at a time when capelan-fishing was in full activity, the question 
arises whether the whaling-ships are liable during their cruises to scare 
the schools of capelan. Some people think that the noise made by the 
' propeller of a steamer is capable, even at a considerable distance, of 
frightening capelan and herring and driving them away from the coast. 
This, however, is merely a supposition, and has never been proved by 
facts. Various observations (see also those mentioned by me above), on 
the contrary, seem to show that at any rate the capelan is in no wise 
affected by this kind of noise. It is another question, whether the 
noise of the cannon, which are fired off by the whaling-vessels, can 
frighten the capelan. It cannot be denied that the capelan, like all 
fish, is strangely affected by any sudden noises of this kind. One can 
easily convince himself by actual experiment that even a slight noise, 
such as the falling down of an oar in the boat, &c., is noticed by the 
schools of capelan which are in the immediate neighborhood, and that, 
on hearing the noise, they make a sudden movement, which causes their 
shining sides to appear in the water. One may, however, at the same 
time, convince himself that this movement is purely temporary, and 
that, as soon as the noise has subsided, the schools of capelan quietly 
pursue their course. As the cannon shots which are fired by the whaling- 
vessels are by no means ot the character of a continuous cannonade, but 
are only fired at long intervals, it cannot be supposed that the course of 
the capelan is in any way influenced thereby, especially when these shots, 
as is mostly the case, are fired at a considerable distance from the coast. 
It cannot be denied, however, that if these shots should be fired close 
to the shore, and right among the schools of capelan whilst they are 
engaged in spawning, the spawning-process might be endangered, and 
the capelan frightened to such a degree as to make their capture much 
more difficult. It would be still worse if a wounded whale should in its 
agony rush among the schools of capelan, dragging the steamer after 
it. Such cases will probably be of rare occurrence, but are said to have 
happened, and must under any circumstances be considered as extremely 
unfavorable to the capelan-fisheries. Some complaints on this point 
have been raised during the present year, and I have had occasion 
during my stay at Vadsoe to become acquainted with the nature of these 
complaints, and I must say that, although they were doubtless exag- 
gerated, there was certainly some foundation for them. Iam, therefore, 
prepared to grant that it will be a benefit to confine the whale-fisheries 
within certain limits. 
