APPENDIX a — 8 — 



catfish (Anarrliiclias minor and latifrons), rays (especially Raja batis and lintea), more rarely 

 larger specimens of haddock (Gadus aeglefinus). These species play by far the greatest role 

 and occur especially in the upper part of the region. Deeper down and near to the boundary 

 of the cold water, these forms are joined by the following species : the blue ling (Molva byrke- 

 lange), the black halibut (Hippoglossus hippoglossoides), Macrurids (especially M. Pabricii), the 

 great silver smelt (Argentina silus) and the arctic shark (Somniosus microcephalus). 



Closer study of the numerous haxüs made during the investigations, at depths from 200 — 

 600 m., shows many other things. It appears for example, that the ling constitutes the chief 

 portion of the summer catches amongst the round fish, on the stretch from the Shetlands to the 

 Lofoten Islands, whilst the cod is so rare over the same region especially in summer, that in 

 a series of experiments with long lines, only one cod on an average was taken on 700 hooks. 

 Further north, e. g. in the Barents Sea and on the stretch from the Pseroes to Iceland, the 

 relation is different. Here the ling occurs only sparingly, whilst the cod is caught in distinctly 

 greater quantities. 



The fishery investigations have also shown us, that the quantities of the above-mentioned 

 fishes are not constant, either at all places or at all seasons of the year 



Prom the experience of the fishermen, as also from the scientific fishery experiments, it 

 appears that the ling and likewise the halibut, collect together in shoals at certain times and 

 places where, at other times, but few are found. The halibut is especially abundant in late 

 autumn on the Norwegian coastal banks, whereas only a few are taken in summer, the ling 

 on the other hand appears chiefly in the summer. In the Barents Sea, the regular migrations 

 of the shoals of cod can in general be determined already. They move in the summer far to 

 the east and retui'n again in winter towards the west. 



More will be said concerning this in describing the natural history of the cod. The 

 condition of the bottom has great influence on the quantitative distribution of the fishes. On 

 the coastal banks are depressions, flats or elevations. The depressions have mostly soft, 

 muddy bottom, whilst the higher flats, slopes and elevations are often covered with sand, 

 gravel and stones, from the size of millet seed to that of ballast stones. The fishery investiga- 

 tions have shown that in the muddy depressions (e. g. the Barents Sea or the stretch between 

 the Lofotens and ßomsdal bank) only a poor fish-fauna occurs, whilst good catches can be 

 made on more stony ground. From this arises the necessity for investigating the bottom, and 

 great pains have been taken to do this on the Norwegian fisheries investigations. 



During the summer; the Norwegian and Swedish fishermen fish with long lines in this 

 region for the above-mentioned species, at 200— 500 m. depth. 



4) The portions of the region under observation which lie in less than 200m. have 

 however, by far the greatest importance for the study of the fisheries and natural liistory of 

 the fishes. These comprise the following banks : 



the Iceland bank, the E,omsdal bank, 



the northern and southern Pseroe bank. the Lofoten— Troms© bank '. 



the North Sea, 



' To these are joined a series of smaller banks along the Norwegian coast, which are so small 

 however, that they cau be indicated only by the aid of larger charts. 



