APPENDIX F: HENKING 14 — 



In 1902, they were found in somewhat greater quantities in June, and again in 1903 

 in unusually great numbers during May; they were also caught by the steam-trawlers in 

 considerable quantities on the banks of Norderney, Heligoland and Sylt. If we compare 

 this with what has been said previously (p. 3) regarding the occurrence of the mackerel 

 in the neigbourhood of the coast, we obtain an interesting picture of the occurrence of 

 this migratory fish in the southern North Sea. 



III. The region of the Skager Rak 



(Skager Rak, Hanstholm, Hirtshals, the Skaw) 



In this region, the trawl fishery is limited to the southern, shallower part, or the 

 margin of the mainland on the Jutland coast. The deeper, northern part of this water, 

 has not hitherto been fished. 



The hydrographical conditions are of especial interest, in that the weakly saline coastal 

 waters grade, so to speak, in layers into the highly saline waters of the Skager Rak with 

 relatively sharp transitions (as shown by the accompanying chart), and the periodic fluc- 

 tuations in those conditions, which have been specially studied by the Swedish naturalists, 

 are accompanied by corresponding changes of temperature. Otherwise, the conditions 

 here are less complicated than in the southern North Sea, because the fresh-water outflow 

 from the coast and the slope of the bottom are quite unimportant. 



In 1902, the fishery was carried on here by 725 steamers with 5,929 voyaging days, 

 in 1903 by 809 steamers with 6,865 voyaging days. 



It may be mentioned here again, that these figures do not refer to the total catch 

 in the Skager Rak, but only to the portion which forms the basis for the following 

 contribution. 



1. Haddock. The average catch per day amounts to: 



1902 1903 



I sort 81-23 pounds 57"io pounds 



n „ 107-84 „ 104-49 „ 



ni „ 506-16 „ 403-09 V 



IV 383-89 „ 856-05 „ \ 



Whiting 299-84 „ 168-79 „ I 



For both years and especially clearly in 1903, the maximum for the larger haddock 

 (sorts I and II) lies in the months May, June and July; a minimum just as distinct in 

 January (February) and November — December. 



Exactly the same is the case for the small haddock; the curve rises like a mountain 

 from the minimum in the months of spring, reaches its maximum somewhat later than 

 that of the larger haddock and then suddenly falls again in November — December. 



The precise data in the journals of the catches confirm the picture given above, 



I 



