INTRODUCTION > 
Fluctuations in’the yield a characteristic feature of all great fisheries. 
From the earliest times, a characteristic feature in all branches of the fishing indu- 
stry has been the fluctuation of the respective yields from year to year. At the present 
time, we find the United States complaining of the failure of the mackerel fishery, while 
in France, a “sardine crisis’ has arisen, the yield of the sardine fishery, which in 1898 
amounted to over 50 million kilos, having sunk in 1899 to below 30, and in 1902 to less 
than 9 million kilos. The Norwegian fisheries, which more especially form the subject 
of the present work, have for hundreds of years experienced alternating periods of rich 
and poor yield. These periodical fluctuations have as a rule been of some consider- 
able duration, a series of years of profitable fishery succeeding and succeeded by several 
years of dearth. Thus the term: a good (or bad) fishery period has become an expression 
of common occurrence. We may, as a preliminary, here pause to consider some examples, 
selected in particular from the two most important branches of the fishing industry; 
the cod and herring fisheries. 
Norwegian Cod fisheries. 
STROM states, that in 1714 and 1715, the yield of the fishery in Sondmor, the di- 
striet north of the promontory of Stat on the west coast af Norway, was so poor that 
the fishermen were obliged to sell their boats. In 1718, on the other hand, the yield 
was richer in the same degree, and remained so until 1733, when a decrease again made 
itself apparent. In 1736 and 1737 a rich yield was once more noted, lasting until 1740, 
when “all the bays along the coast were swarming with cod” which penetrated far up 
into the fiords. By 1760, the yield had again fallen to a very low level. 
LeoporD v. Buch relates that from 1799—1801, fish were abundant in Lyngen, 
Karlso and Skjærvo, (Tromso district) whereas from 1801—1807 scarcely any fish were 
taken. 
In later years also, since the introduction of the Fishery Statistics (1866) the yield 
of the cod fishery has exhibited similar fluctuations. The yield of the “skrei’’*) fishery 
varies between some thirty odd millions (in 1883,) and over 60 millions of fish (in 1912). Du- 
ring the later eighties and early nineties we find a long period of profitable yield. Along 
*) There being, as_far as author and translator are aware, no exact English equivalent for 
the Norwegian word, the term “skrsi” will be used throughout the work to denote such cod as 
have attained maturity, and are thus able to join the shoals of spawning fish, which can be taken 
with hook and line. 
1* 
