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the limits of their own coasts, and as they have been 

 already referred to by Professor Huxley, I will only 

 briefly notice them. 



Their boats are almost exclusively open, and of a 

 small size compared with the usual fishing vessel for the 

 open sea. Their lines and hooks are about the same as 

 those used by our own smacks, the principle of working 

 them is also nearly the same, with this exception, that 

 whereas the immense shoals of cod on their journey to 

 the coast do not always take the ground as the term is 

 but move at a greater or less depth, they ascertain 

 the position of the fish in the sea, and then instead of 

 sinking their line to the bottom they suspend it in mid- 

 water by means of glass globes which they attach to 

 their line. Specimens of these glass globes may be seen 

 in the splendid collection of the Norwegian department. 

 I am not aware that this system is used by any other 

 fishermen, but it recommends itself as a very ingenious 

 and successful method, and as a proof of its utility I may 

 remark that instances have come under my notice in 

 which on a line of 3000 hooks, so suspended, 2000 fish 

 have been taken in one haul, while neighbouring boats 

 whose lines have been set at a greater depth have drawn 

 almost a blank. 



Some attempts have been made of late years by the 

 Norwegians to take a part in the open sea fisheries, and 

 I regret to say they have not been so successful as 

 they deserve. I venture, however, to express the opinion 

 that as a people they possess too much energy and 

 enterprise to be baffled by a few fruitless attempts, and 

 that by perseverance they will succeed. A people so 

 hardy, and by constant practice so inured to the hardships 

 and dangers of the sea, is eminently qualified to take 

 a prominent position in this direction. Having so far 



