﻿Chapter II. 



Why is the profit of the flat-fishfisheries decreasing in 

 the seas east of the Skaw? 



Because the fishing is carried on too eagerly. 



That the plaice-fishery east of the Skaw has decreased considerably, so 

 that the capital that has been infested in it does not i/ietd so high interest as 

 before is, I am sorry to say, an undoubted fact, evident to all who have had 

 anything to do with this fishery. 



It is generally said that the reason of this is a deterioration of the stock 

 of plaice owing to the eager pursuit; but we might imagine also that in the 

 course of the years too great a capital had been invested in this fishery, so 

 that the latter is unable to bear if. though perhaps the ^tock is as good 

 as ever it was. 



If this were really the case, legislature must leave the whole matter to 

 itself; at most, people might be advised to invest their capital in other enter- 

 prises; but evidently it is not so, at any rate it is not the only en use of the 

 depreciation. 



If the stock of plaice east of the Skaw were as good as it used to be. 

 the market, with the present great number of fishermen, would be as well 

 supplied as before, nay better indeed; but this is what does not take place. 



The market for our flat-fishes which have been caught in the Catte- 

 gat is partly our own country, partly and particularly Germany (Hamburg- 

 Altona), partly, in a slight degree, Gothenburg (for the sale of the little plaice). 



Our principal home market is Copenhagen, and here all consumers com- 

 plain of the enormous prices of plaice (30 — 40 Or.- 4 -;">' .. d] per lb.) as also 



