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of the bottom, the depth, etc. have prevented a ton reckless fishing, while, 

 perhaps, they have been fished up for the greater part in the Lrmfjord or, 

 perhaps, emigrate to the German Sea when they heroine ripe. 



The latter supposition will coincide with my view on the conditions 

 in our other enclosed fjords and seas, from which the plaice emigrates in 

 winter when ripe. 



Only the Oattegat has thus a real stock of plaice which can live through 

 years independent of the stock of other seas. — 



The spot where spawning plaice are found in the greatest multitudes 

 is evidently the nearest neighbourhood of Anholt. From this island'fishiug- 

 smaeks, loaded with thousands of scores of lean fish which have spawned or 

 are just spawning, are carried every winter to Copenhagen, where in spite 

 of their proportionally considerable size they are sold at only c. 75 Ore 

 (c. in d.) the score. They are scarcely eatable, so watery and thin are they. 



It is impossible to say how great a loss our fishery suffers in this 

 way. as long as we have no statistics, hut it has been the cause of grief to 

 all who have seen these great multitudes of large fish, which half a year 

 later would represent large sums, he thrown away in this manner: much 

 the more so as our object must he now to economize the stock in the 

 Oattegat in order to get the greatest yearly profit by it. 



.Spawning plaice are also fished elsewhere in our seas, for instance 

 south of the isle of Moen; hut these fish are rather small, and they are 

 not taken in such large multitudes as at Anholt. They are the poorest 

 fish I ever saw used as human food, and, indeed, as a rule they are also 

 scarcely saleable. 



A great number of plaice then do spawn in our seas, and enormous 

 quantities of fertilized eggs drift about there in winter. This winter 

 (1894) I have had them fished in Fasne Sound by means of a tight bag 

 with a diameter of about 2 feet. Sometimes about ! / N litre of eggs has 

 been taken in less than 24 hours by making the current run through this 

 hat;. It is consequently enormous figures with which we must count in 

 order to make out the number of eggs in our seas (see Hensen's excellent 

 researches; also: Report III. Dan. biol. Station. 1892). and we might think 

 that there would be no want of eggs anywhere in our seas, as the currents 

 in a few days will be able to carry them over distances which in a very 

 short time can encompass all our shores and islands east of the Skaw. 



As mentioned in Report III there is however, among others, one factor 

 which prevents this spreading of the egos. viz. their specific gravity. 



