[7] EEL-FISHING IN THE BALTIC. 421 



are caught. As with other fish, wind and current are of considerable 

 importance as regards the eel-fisheries. The data we possess in this 

 respect are, however, still too incomplete to draw from them any certain 

 general conclusions.* Kear Grissleham southeasterly wind was con- 

 sidered the most favorable, but north, northeasterly, and east wind as 

 unfavorable for the eel-fisheries. ISTear Landsort, south wind is con- 

 sidered favorable, but north and northwest wind unfavorable. Near 

 Harstena, on the coast of Ostergotland, the best eel-fisheries are said to 

 be when the wind is south or east. West wind is not considered un- 

 favorable, but when north wind prevails no eels are caught. On the 

 coast north of Helsingborg south and west wind and rainy weather are 

 considered favorable for the eel-fisheries. Near Kivik, on the eastern 

 coast of Scanai, a faint northeasterly or easterly breeze is in some 

 places considered most favorable, whilst in other places the same is 

 thought as regards strong west wind. The best hauls are made with 

 a tolerably strong northerly current.! (Areschoug.) I am strongly 

 inclined to suppose that the different currents and the varying depth of 

 water near the coast play an important part in the migrations of the 

 eels, and are the principal causes why the eels, as has been stated above, 

 in their migrations pass by certain parts of the coast. Thus an old 

 fisherman near Ystad stated that the reason why the eels did not visit 

 that part of the coast in any considerable number must be sought in 

 the depth of water outside that coast, where the eels, instead of going 

 towards the land, turn and go out to sea again. Among other condi- 

 tions of the Aveather which are considered to have an influence on the 

 eel-fisheries, cloudy and rainy weather seem, as a general rule, to be con- 

 sidered favorable. Near Kivik great heat during summer, and calm, 

 which favors the so-called " blooming" of the water (the development 

 of a kind of floating algae), seem to be favorable for the eel- fisheries. 

 The eel is always said to seek a bottom overgrown with grass and al- 

 gae, and the fishermen, therefore, like to set the " hommor " on such 

 bottom ; but also on stony bottom, as is generally found on our coasts, 

 and on sandy bottom (the coast of Scania) with or without vegetation. 

 If, as is generally the case, in Blekinge and Scania, the " hommor " are 

 set in rows, one back of the other, sometimes to the number of 30, the 

 catch is but rarely distributed evenly among all the " hommor," but 

 more fish are generally caught in those nearer the land than in those 

 on the outside. Near Kivik it has been observed that during west wind 

 the eels come very near to the land, whilst during east wind they go 

 farther out to sea. (Areschoug.) 



* Kroyer states that the eels leave the coast during land wind, but approach it 

 again when the wina blows over the land. 



\ In the Great Belt south wind is in some places, and north wind in others, con- 

 sidered favorable ; for both these winds cause a faint current along the coast, and 

 keep the water a little agitated, which causes the eels to halt in their wanderings. 

 G. Winther, Nordi>ik Tidnskrift for Fiskeri, vol. ii, p. "25L 



