_ 31 — JOH. H JORT AND C. Œ JOH. PETERSEN 



Similar investigations were afterwards made over the entire region from Tromse to as 

 far as Eomsdal bank. 



It was shown therewith, that the various small coastal banks were different; on some, 

 spawning cod were found, on others not. It seems that the depths from 54 to 136 m. are 

 preferred by the fish for spawning in the Norwegian Sea, and only the hanks with flats of 

 54 — 72 m. and placed very near to the coasts, seem certain year by year to be "skrei"-banks. 



On the western coastal banks of the Norwegian Sea^, at Iceland and the Faeroe Isles, 

 similar investigations of the pelagic cod eggs and of the spawning of the cod shoals, were 

 made during 1903 and 1904 and the result was, that no cod eggs could be found beyond the 

 coastal banks and the 180 m. line. All the eggs are therefore spawned in the neighbour- 

 hood of the coasts and carried by the currents not far from the coasts. The distribution 

 of the eggs on the Icelandic coasts is most interesting and important. From the chart (PI. X.) 

 it is seen that the cod eggs were distributed in April 1904 along the south coast of Iceland 

 from Westerhorn to Reykjanes and along the west coast to Cape North, on the east and 

 north coasts however, no cod eggs occurred. Along the western part of the south coast, from 

 the Westmann Islands to Reykjanes, they were found in great quantities. In the cold water 

 of the north and east coasts the cod eggs were practically not at all spawned. 



The experiences of the fishermen confirm these facts. On the south coast, they catch spawn- 

 ing cod in spring, mostly in March and April, and especially on the stretch from the West- 

 mann Islands at Reykjanes, somewhat later on the west coast also, especially on its southern 

 part, whilst the conditions on the north and east coasts are different. Here the fishery, which 

 is carried on in the summer and autumn months, consists of younger and spent fish. 



At the Pseroes also, pelagic cod eggs have been found in April and beginning of May, but 

 only over comparatively small depths (down to 180 m.). 



In the North Sea, as mentioned above, the conditions are distinctly more complicated. 

 The investigation of the pelagic cod eggs is so difficult because many eggs of other species as 

 well as the cod occur there and their determination, at least in the earliest stages, is only pos- 

 sible by artificial rearing. Nevertheless, large collections of pelagic eggs and young larvae have 

 been made and are at present being worked at in the different countries; tliey will enlarge 

 our stock of knowledge concerning the occurrence of the spawning cod. 



Numerous fishery experiments gave important and full material also concerning the distribu- 

 tion of the spawning cod, but this at present is undergoing thorough investigation so that it 

 would not be right to give a detailed description concerning it now. It may only be said that 

 the numerous fishery experiments in tlie deeper, northern part of the North Sea have shown that no 

 spawning takes place there during the spawning period of the cod of the Norwegian Sea (Feb- 

 ruary—April). The conditions on the coastal banks, where great masses of cod collect to 

 spawn in the winter months, February — April, are however different. This is especially apparent 

 from the representative statistic of the different countries. The German, English, Scottish, Nor- 

 wegian and Danish statistical data and journals of catches received by Committee A, show 

 this with great certainty. Thus, the statistics worked out by Henkln g give the following: 



Henking distinguishes between coastal banks and the deep-sea banks. The coastal banks 

 have a depth of 20 — 40 m. and extend from the Dutch coast to the Skager Rak. The deep 

 ' Schmidt, 1. c. S. 56—59. 



