— 11 — APPENDIX F: HENKING 



We have thus a phenomenon before us, quite similar to the great cod fisheries of 

 Norway, which are likewise at a maximum in winter. 



The picture can be still further perfected, as we know from detailed journals of the 

 banks of Heligoland and Sylt outer ground, that the cod had practically disappeared from 

 there in September — October 1902. 



4. Ling (Lota molva) shows the following averages: 



1902 1903 



9-93 pounds 8-17 pounds. 



The maximum lies in March — April with somewhat more than twice the average 

 amount, the minimum in June ; both years agree in this. In the remaining months the 

 catch is fairly uniform (Fig. 19, 20, p. 26). 



5. Saithe and Pollack (Gadus virens and G. poUachius). 



These species are no common in the southern North Sea. The average catch per 

 day amounts to: 



1902 1903 



i3-83pounds 8-25 pounds. 



The catch shows but little variations in the various months. From the special journals 

 of catches, it appears, that these fish appear only occasionally and in small quantities on 

 the most southern banks, e. g. in the winter of 1902 on the Horns Reef Banks, likewise 

 however in May — June ; a shoal of them occurred at Heligoland in November 1902. Single 

 specimens are taken on the southern Mud Bank. At Borkum, they were absent in 

 December 1902. 



We may therefore consider these species, when they occur in the southern parts of 

 the North Sea, as visitors from the north 



6. Gurnards (Trigla). With the two species Tr. gurnardus and Tr. hirundo 

 the weever (Trachinus) is also included. 



/ The average catch per day is: 



1902 1903 



52-56 pounds ca. 48 pounds. 



The take of these fishes in December, January, February, March of both years was 

 practically nil. Then it suddenly rose and reached its maximum with 129-48 pounds in 

 June 1902 and 131-60 pounds in May 1903. This agreement is almost ridiculous, when 

 we remember, that more than 70 steamers with 450—500 voyaging days form the basis 

 of the calculation for both years. 



7. Hake (Merluccius). The average catch pr. day is: 



1902 1903 



28-73 pounds 17-33 pounds. 



The curves, representing the occurrence of this interesting fish, are in perfect agree- 

 ment for both years; from December to May it occurs only in traces, but the quantities 

 increase from June onwards and reach a maximum in August — September; then they 

 rapidly decrease and vanish towards the end of the year (.Fig. 3, 4, p. 20). 



