8l4 BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF FISHERIES. 



for that purpose. In 1891 there was a marked increase in the cod fishery near 

 Arendal, and still more so in 1892, so that a considerable part of the spawners 

 could be bought there. In 1 893 the whole number of spawners was obtained in 

 Arendal, and the spawn collected amounted to 1,000 liters. From that year 

 to the present time there has been no lack of spawners at the Arendal fish 

 market, and the quantity of spawn each year has varied between 550 and 1,326 

 liters, not according to what could be had, but according to the sum voted by 

 the Storthing for the hatchery. At present it would not be difficult to obtain 

 2,000 liters if required. It must be borne in mind, however, that natural 

 spawning, introduced in 1890, produces at least double the quantity of spawn 

 compared to the old method, and that consequently the number of spawners 

 can not be calculated direct from tlie quantity of spawn; but on the other hand 

 it is obvious that the cod has increased greatly in the vicinity since the hatchery 

 was started. > 



As mentioned above, the hatchery was started in 1884. That year a small 

 quantity of fry, less than 1,000,000, was planted in a small fjord about 10 miles 

 from Arendal. In the following year the neighboring people sent me a letter 

 with the information that a great many small cod had made their appearance, in 

 fact more than the oldest inhabitant could remember. 



In 1889 the Bergen Society for the Promotion of the Norwegian Fisheries 

 sent one of their chief members, the president of the propagation committee, as 

 well as the state inspector of fisheries, to the fjord in question to investigate the 

 matter. Their report, dated March, 1889, says that there is no doubt that the 

 number of cod in the fjord has increased and that this is the result of the planting 

 of the fry, and, further, that there can hardly be any doubt that artificial hatch- 

 ing is the right course to take to improve the fisheries. 



In 1 895 the Storthing decided that to get further proof of the utility of sea- 

 fish hatching fry should be planted in inclosed fjords in the same manner as 

 before and without previous investigations. This was done, and in conformity 

 with the plan adopted our society approached the public where fry had been 

 planted in former years and asked their opinion as to the results. Twenty-two 

 answers came in from parish councils, commercial marine societies, and from 

 private parties and fishermen. The answers were unanimous, and to the effect 

 that an unusual number of small cod made their appearance wherever fry were 

 planted, and, further, that the fish to a great extent were of a color differing from 

 that of the local race." 



These documents, however, when laid before the Storthing, caused a mem- 

 ber opposed to sea-fish hatching to express a doubt as to their trustworthiness, 



a The cod on the south coast of Norway vary greatly as far as color is concerned, there being light 

 gray, dark gray, red, and yellow cod, according to race, nature of bottom, food, etc., and, generally 

 speaking, each fjord or stretch of coast has its own peculiar variety. 



