— 1538 — 
scarcely have been fully representative of the “loddefisk” stock, there being so few small 
fish present, while the trawl catches in 1901 showed many under 50 em. 
We will next proceed to consider the skrei in 1902 and 1903. In 1902, a great number 
of skrei were measured on the Malangsgrund, off the coast of Tromso. The sizes are 
shown in the figure, the 70—75 and 75—79 cm. groups being numerously represented. 
In 1903, again, measurements of skrei were taken on the bank in the immediate vieinity, 
Svendsgrunden. The skrei here found were the smallest ever observed. No less than 
46.8 %, were under 65 cm., the average percentage of these undersized fish for all the 
years from which measurements exist being 9.8. The average size of the whole sample, 
also, was only 66.1, the normal average for skrei being 76.4 The average here thus 
corresponded approximately to the normal average for Finmark fish. According to the 
average sizes of the different age classes of skrei, these fish must have consisted mainly 
of 6 and 7 year old individuals, possible also a number of 8 year olds. This again agrees 
with the composition of the Finmark fish in 1901 and 1902: 
OOM apr eet rt — 4, 5, 6 year fish 
ee =O Oo We pea 0 
Nee — ONE DE 
or for all years, the year classes 1897, 1896 and 189. 
From Svendsgrunden, the investigations were extended to Rost and Lofoten. Here 
the fish were, in March, considerably larger, about the same as on the Malangsgrund 
the year before. This is not easily explained at first sight. I can myself only suggest 
that it should be due to a phenomenon similar to that which took place among 
the spring herring in 1908 (Chap. I. Fig. 22) viz., an extensive immigration of young 
fish into the shoals of the older and larger individuals. We noticed, in the case of the 
spring herring fishery in 1908, that in February, at the beginning of the season, there 
were many old and large fish, whereas later on, in April, the size had considerably de- 
creased, owing to the great immigration of four. year old fish (the 1904 year class) 
into the spawning shoals. In a similar manner, | believe that the Lofoten skrei 
stock in March 1903 must have been comparatively small and chiefly composed of 
older fish, while farther to the north, shoals of quite young skrei were on their way 
southwards to the Lofoten banks. It is greatly to be regretted that no such accurate 
measurements were taken in April 1903. In the report of the fishery authorities, how- 
ever, we find two points of importance, firstly that the principal fishery at Lofoten did 
not commence until April, and secondly, that the average weight of the Lofoten skrei 
for the year was 1.5 kilos (gutted weight). 
As to the yield of the fishery in different months of the season in 1903, the fishery 
report gives the following figures. 
Lofoten fishery, percentage of total catch. 
January and February March April 
Average for 1871—1890....... 19.8 62.7 17.8 
Average for 1891—1900....... 12.3 65.4 22.3 
NO doc 13.8 60.0 26.2 
IQ. 2 cecos 16.1 59.4 24.5 
IGOB..002000 0.0 31.4 68.6 
20 
