APPENDIX F: HENKING 



— 18 



15. Halibut. The average catch per day is: 



1902 1903 



3-20 pounds 3'03 pounds. 



A small increase in the catch is noticeable in February and March and also in 

 August— September. 



16. Rays contribute considerably to the catches in the Skager Rak. The average 



per day is: 



1902 1903 



72'15 pounds 70-34 pounds. 



In the summer months, from about May to October, the catch is under the general 

 average, with a minimum in June (1902) or Juli (1903). 



The catch in December to March lies high above the average. (Fig. 25, 26, p. 27). 



In addition to the unimportant species taken by the trawlers and mentioned in an 

 earlier page, as angler, dog-fish and mackerel, some special species are taken in the 

 Skager Rak. The Norway haddock (Sebastes norwegicus) and the Great Silver 

 Smelt (Argentina silus) may be specially mentioned here. Both live in the deeper 

 water-layers and are only caught apparently in the summer half-year. 



Further, the occurrence of herring in the catches of the trawlers is interesting. The 

 trawl is not usually the right apparatus for taking the herring', and even here it has only 

 the character of an extra-catch, on account of which the opinion has occasionally been 

 expressed,- that the herring are not taken on the ground but in the higher layers on 

 winding in the net. This does not seen altogether a satisfactory explanation. I will 

 content myself with stating the following data of the herring catches in 1902—03. 



1902 



In February 800 pounds 



„ June 600 „ 



„ October 900 „ 



„ November 13,950 ,, 



„ December 1 100 „ 



1903 



In January . . 



„ February . 



„ March 



„ September 



„ October . . 



„ November 



„ December . 



1200 pounds 

 1300 

 200 



100 



62 



750 



100 



Retrospect 



It appears from the summary, given in preceding pages, that considerable fluctuations 

 occur in the stock of almost all the food-fishes, considered at the different periods of the 

 year. In view of the considerable material which forms the basis of our review, it can 

 hardly be considered, that the fluctuations in the curve of the catches is referable to the 



I Nevertheless, this is the usual method of fishing for the winter-herring in the mouths of the Elbe (see p 4). 



