THE UTILITY OF SEA-FISH HATCHING. 815 



and the Government ordered its adviser in fishery questions to investigate the 

 matter. His report, dated December, 1896, contains the following particulars: 

 He had visited the principal places where fry had been planted between Fred- 

 riksald and Arendal, a distance of about 150 miles, and had questioned fishermen 

 and others, especially such as had not signed the documents. He had in most 

 cases avoided making himself known, pretending to be a private individual 

 who took an interest in the question, and thinks therefore that he got explicit 

 and unreserved answers. Out of thirty persons with whom he had conferred, 

 there were twenty-five who were of a decided opinion that the planting of fry 

 had caused a more or less considerable increase in the number of cod, two who 

 thought there was but a slight increase, and three who had observed no increase 

 at all. In many places the people were certain that they could distinguish the 

 broods planted in the different years and that the size corresponded with the 

 age. The cod now were partly of a color different from what they used to be. 

 He also found the inhabitants very eager to have more fry planted in their 

 fjords, even if they should have to pay for it out of their own pockets. 



Since then our society has received a great many testimonials of the same 

 tenor (60 altogether) and as they have been accompanied with cash to the amount 

 of 10,000 kroner for fry delivered, their trustworthiness can hardly be doubted. 



In 1903, the Storthing, still doubtful, voted the necessary sums for the 

 investigation of fjords where fry were to be planted. The plan was to have 

 them thoroughly overhauled before and after fry were put in, with the object 

 of ascertaining the approximate number of cod of the year's growth. A seine 

 with very small meshes, 22 fathoms long and 2j^ fathoms deep, was used, and 

 great care was taken to have the hauls made in exactly the same places and at 

 the same season, the latter part of September, when the fish would have a length 

 of from 2 to 4 inches, being agreed upon. The work was conducted by me, and 

 controlled by an assistant to the fishery board, an implacable opponent to sea-fish 

 hatching. 



Two fjords, no. i and no. 2, were thus overhauled in September, 1903. In 

 no. I fry were planted the following spring and both fjords again overhauled in 

 September. In 1905 fry were planted in both fjords in April, after which they 

 were overhauled in September the same year. Fjord no. 3 was investigated by 

 me alone, and in the following manner: First, overhauling in September, 1904, 

 with subsequent planting of fry in April, 1905; investigated in September same 

 year. More fry planted in April, 1906, and a final overhauling the following Sep- 

 tember. As will be seen, all the fjords mentioned have been overhauled three 

 times each. In the first and third, fry were planted twice, in the second only once. 

 The results were as follows : 



Fjord No. I. — About 10 miles long, i mile broad, shaped like a horseshoe. 

 Bottom of sand, clay, and mud, the shores mostly rock, covered with algae, 



