APPENDIX J: NORWAY 



— 18 — 



Boats etc. 



It is clear from this table, that the average price of fish in Norway, taken as 

 a whole, has not increased within recent years. In the case of the cod, for example, the 

 maximum price was reached in 1874. Within recent years, the price has certainly been above the 

 average and this has been accompanied by a less amount of fish caught. At the same time 

 also, the number of fishermen has decreased, and the question is whether the numbers of 

 cod taken have decreased because there are fewer fishermen, or vice versa. In the report 

 for 1902, the latter possibility is suggested, i. e. that the largest cod-fisheries at Lofoten, 

 Vesteraalen and Finmark are now yelding a less number of fish. According to Hjort and 

 Dahl (4), this phenomenon is in accordance with the many fluctuations which the fishery 

 has undergone, ever since information regarding it has been forthcoming. 



The mackerel and herring display considerable fluctuations, probably according to the 

 fishing. The remarkable point is the very low price for herrings: less than Kr. 5 (about 

 5 sh.) on the average, for ca. TOO herrings. 



The salmon and lobster, on the other hand, show a most distinct rise in price within 

 recent years. In the case of the salmon, this increased price is associated with an increased 

 total quantity, so that the increase in price is most probably due to an increased demand 

 and competition. In the case of the lobster, however, the increase of price has been asso- 

 ciated with a decrease in quantity caught. The latter might alone account for the former 

 without any increase in the demand, but it is probable that the demand has also increased. 



It is only for the cod-fishery, that the number of boats is given in full; for the 

 summer herring and mackerel fisheries, only those using drift or gill-nets are stated. 

 Where the boats are almost all small and the fishing seasonal or periodic, it is obviously 

 very difficult, especially on such a coast as the Norwegian, to obtain exact records of the 

 boats actually fishing. 



On the other hand, the number of fishermen engaged in the chief fisheries has been 

 kept for a long period of years, and is as follows (1902, p. 3*): 



The maximum was reached in 1892, when 101,659 fishermen were engaged in the 

 cod-fisheries alone. It is mentioned also, that the numbers are probably too high, as the 

 boats move from one district to another and may be counted more than once. Of the 

 numbers engaged in the other fisheries, no account is given. 



