— 181 — 
five, Henvanp-HAnsen and Nansen have compared the quantity of Lofoten roe in 
various years with the number of fish taken at the same place seven years later, and in 
Finmarken five years later. This 
comparison may be seen in 
figure 113, where the curves for 
the yield of the Lofoten and 
Finmark fisheries are moved 
forward seven and five years 
respectively, in relation to the 
curve showing amount of roe 
and liver. & RE 
The amount of roe and liver : 
being taken as proved to depend 
upon conditions of temperature, 
the next conclusion is then that 
both the quality and quantity 9 
of the Lofoten fish are dependent 3 I 
upon the fluctuations in the se es 
ocean currents. The Lofoten Fig. 112. I & II. Mean Temperature of intermediate At- 
fishery is presumed to be in- lantic water in Sognefjord and Lofoten Sections. 
III. Mean Temp. of Barents Sea Stations. 
IV. Quantity of Cod Roe obtained during the Lofoten 
fluenced by the Atlantic current, 
the sprat fishery by the move- Fisheries (in Litres pr. 1,000 Fish; scale to the right) — 
ments of the coastal water. V. Quantity of Cod Liver obtained during the Lofoten 
In many other respects, also, Fisheries (in Hectolitres pr. 1,000 Fish; scale to the left) 
(climatic, agricultural, etc.) these (from Hettanp-Hansen and Nansen). 
authors find the influence of the 
ocean currents and their fluctuations apparent. We cannot, however, here enter upon 
any closer consideration of these sides of the question; I will merely mention a single 
instance of comparison between the average temperature of the Atlantic current and the 
percentage of fish taken at Lofoten before the 15th of March, as illustrated by figure 
114, in which the temperature in the Sognefjord section is compared with conditions 
prevailing in Lofoten a year later. 
Throughout their work, HELLAND-HANSEN and Nansen seem to have devoted the 
greatest interest to comparison of the temperature of the Atlantic current with the 
amount of liver in the Lofoten fish. It is by no means surprising that a comparison 
with the long known and remarkably regular, wave-like curve for this factor should at- 
tract particular attention. In the periodical course of this curve these writers found 
a certain similarity to that of another well known figure, viz, that representing the vary- 
ing numerical value of the spots on the sun, a resemblance which is the more remark- 
able in view of the opinion held by many meteorologists, that the sun’s spots exert a 
certain influence upon the currents of the ocean and the climate of the earth. Just as 
the sun’s spots are supposed to influence the temperature of the ocean currents, it 
may be supposed that these again occasion the fluctuations in the fishery, so that the 
relation of these last to their primary causes may be followed with almost mathematical 
exactitude. 
