— 186 — 
been acquainted with the fact. One of the most experienced merchants in Bergen has 
informed me that he has for many years been accustomed to form an estimate of the 
prospects of the Lofoten liver supply by examining, early in the season, the fish offered 
for sale in the Bergen market. It is thus evident, that in considering these fluctuations, 
( 1 N N nn N “ ae eee 
7880 5 1890 5 7900 5) 7910 
ie 
N, 
Re En | 
5 
1880 7590 5 1200 5 79/0 
Fig. 116. Curve showing no. of sun spots for the years 1880—1911 (uppermost); 
below, curve showing quantity of liver in Lofoten skrei for the same years. 
we have to deal with phenomena of great and far-reaching influence and belonging to 
a wide geographical area, at least to that included between the Sognefjord and the 
Lofoten section. The marking experiments have also proved, that the cod may 
cover such a distance in the short time of some months or perhaps even some weeks. 
No relation between the number of sun spots and quantity of liver. 
Nor does a comparison of the number of sun spots with the quantity of liver appear 
to give any satisfactory result. Fig. 116 shows the curves for these two factors, for the 
years 1880—1911. The curve for quantity of liver is that already given, that for the sun 
spots is taken from a work by Prof. Orro Pettersson. The two curves have, it is true, 
so much in common, that both exhibit distinct rise and fall; they do not, however, by 
any means coincide. A rise in the one may occur simultaneously with a fall m the other, 
and vice versa. The only warrantable conclusion would seem to be, that no relation 
can be shown {9 exist between the two phenomena, in any case not for the present, 
nor in the way suggested by HELLAND-HANSEN and NANSEN. 
