The then supervising chief, Mr. Juel, maintains that the in- 

 fluence of the air temperature on that of the water neither seems 

 to be very great nor to extend far down. This is of course to be 

 thus understood, that a sinking of the air temperature for a shorter 

 time does not cause a corresponding sinking of the temperature 

 degree of the water layers. The old assertion that the cold should 

 exercise an unfavourable influence on the fishing by lowering the 

 temperature of the water, is thus deprived of any support. The 

 incorrectness of the assertion must also be said to be proved by 

 experience. 



At that time, however, people began getting a strong beUef 

 in the influence of the sea temperature on the progress of the 

 fishing. The measurements already undertaken had sufficiently 

 shown that the temperatures in the usual fishing depths were 

 extremely changing. Experience had also proved that in one case 

 floating gear ("floit-redskab") made the best catches, while in an- 

 other case bottom gear was most successful. It was therefore an 

 obvious conclusion to attribute these anomalies to the various tem- 

 peratures of the water strata. I will later on enter upon a closer 

 examination of this question. 



The Lofoten report for 1880 contains a complete account of 

 the measurements of inspector Lie at Lodingen from May to De- 

 cember 1879 (p. 94—98). It appears from the latter that the 

 surface temperature reaches its greatest values in the month of 

 August (9°.3 C— 140.8 C). The average of the surface tempera- 

 tures observed during this month is 12°.6 C. In September the 

 surface temp, remains between 10" and IP with an average of 

 lO^.S, and the temp, is sinking from the surface towards the bottom. 

 In the month of October the sea enters into its autumn condition 

 with a temperature maximum below the surface, and, at the same 

 time as this in the course of the autumn is lowered in positive 

 degree, it is depressed at the greater depths until at last, in 

 value and situation, it coincides with the zone that seems untouched 

 by the changes caused by the seasons. The upper limit of this 

 zone may be put at a depth of 100 fathoms, or a little more. 



On the basis of Mr. Lie's measurements, as well as the tem- 

 perature media computed by Mr. Kokk for every half month for 

 the observation station at Lodingen (report of 1880, p. 100 — 101), 

 I will shortly sketch the annual changes of the temperature of the 

 water strata. It will then appear whether later observations have 

 affirmed the main features of this account. 



In the four first months of the year the surface is the seat 

 of the temperature minimum, but in May the latter is displaced to 

 a few fathoms below the surface. According as the heat of the 

 sun influences the upper layers, this minimum becomes more pro- 

 minent and is at the same time pressed lower down. 



Thus, according to the observations mentioned above, the te m- 

 perature average for the first half of August is 



at fathoms 140.7 C. 



- .50 — e^.o - 



- 100 — (bottom) e^.S - 



In the first half of September the temperature medium is 

 at fathoms 10°. 7 C. 



- 70 — 60.1 - 



- 100 — 60.4 - 



In the course of the autumn the surface is much cooled down, 

 and in October the temperature consequently increases down through 

 the layers towards a maximal value, and then sinks again. The 

 autumn maximum has a similar movement as the minimum in the 

 spring, it is pressed deeper and deeper until it is lost or turns 

 into the zone that seems untouched by the annual changes. The 

 measurements show that the autumn condition, which is thus cha- 

 racterized by a temperature maximum at a certain depth, lasts to 

 the end of the year, while already the first half of January presents 

 itself with the typical winter condition, i. e. with a minimum in 

 the surface and a temperature rising downwards to 100 fathoms. 



The other tables in the report of 1880 show temperature con- 

 ditions in various parts of the Lofoten fishing sea, accompanied by 

 observations on the progress of the fishing. At one and the same 

 place the changes of temperature may occur rather quickly, but 

 the general rule is however that it is lowest in the surface and 

 rises towards the bottom. As a result of the whole of the obser- 

 vations, the supervising chief emphasizes that good fishing, partly 

 even rich, lias occurred in depths where the temperature has varied 

 from 2" to 5° C. 



The Lofoten report of 1881 contains an account of continued 

 measurements at Lodingen (p. 179 — 182), as well as the compu- 

 tations by Mr. Kokk of the mean water temperature at the same 

 place for each half month from May 1880 to January 1881 (p. 

 184 — 185). The results stated confirm my above given account. 

 May and October are months of transition, and the bottom tempe- 

 rature at 100 fathoms varies, during all the changes in the over- 

 lying strata, only between 6". 3 and 6".5. 'Ilie highest temperature 

 average falls on August with 12". 1 for the first half of the month, 

 and 110.5 for the second. 



The Lofoten reports for 1881 also contain accounts of several 

 measurements made at the fishing stations (Svolva;r, Ostnes-fjord, 

 Raftsund, and other places). The experience made at the Ostnes 

 fjord seemed to indicate a certain connection between the water 

 temperature and the fishing. In 1882 a rich fishing took place in 

 the Ostnes-fjord. The chief of the supervision, Mr. Beodtkorb, 

 says (Lofot rep. 1882 p. 77) that in less than 8 weeks more than 

 6 million cod was brought up from the sea. The measurements 

 taken showed that the temperature at 60 — 80 fathoms vai'ied in 

 February and March between 5" and B". Quite commonly, how- 

 ever, "fioit-redskab" (floating tackle) was used, so that the fishing 

 chiefly was done in water of 4" — 5" C. 



Also in 1883 measurements were undertaken in the Ostnes 

 fjord, but, although the temperature in Febniary and March does 

 not seem to have differed much from what it was in the corre- 

 sponding months of the previous year, the fishing did not succeed. 



In 1884 temperature series were taken in the Raftsund. The 

 supervision chief, Mr. Knap, states that the best fishing was made 

 at a depth of 40 — 50 fathoms, the temperature of the corresponding 

 strata being 4° — 5". Still the nets were preferably used at 60 f, 

 and at this depth the temperature was higher, nearly up to 6" C. 



In 1885 and 86 measurements were undertaken off the fishing 

 station Hopen. The first year 5° was reached at 30 — 40 f. by 

 observations in February and March, and the fishing was very 

 good. 



