64 Sigurd Johnsen. 
the research-vessel of the Bergen Museum, I have been able to 
attempt some of these questions, only peripherically, however, the 
cruises being too short for attaining more definite results. 
The propagation and development of many of our common 
species are little known and even if their life-history has been 
elucidated elsewhere, data from our waters are required, for 
comparison and for establishing the proper place of the species 
within our fauna. I may further mention that the development 
of such a common species as Coryphaenoides rupestris is still 
practically unknown except for the few data here published. A 
full knowledge of the life-history of this species is obtainable from 
our waters. An account cf this would be of special interest as 
the Macruridae generally are to be studied by means of oceanic 
explorations; their life-history is therefore as yet obscure. 
Special investigations are also required in order to get an 
ample material for a critical examination of the species, especially 
of those whose distribution covers regions of varying character 
e. g. boreo-arctic and boreo-atlantic species. Further the question 
of fish-communities in the various depths and on the various 
sort of bottom can only be investigated when the same methods 
are used at the different localities and the whole material is 
examined. 
During a three days stay in September 1916 onboard one of 
the small trawlers from Stavanger I had the opportunity of 
examining the fishes which were caught together with the com- 
mon prawn (Pandalus borealis) in the small fjords near that 
town. The prawn-trawl is constructed and is being towed in 
such a way as to only skim the muddy bottom; even strong 
Swimmers among the fishes are caught in considerable number. 
On page 5 a list of the species of fish is given, the tabular suc- 
cession indicating their relative frequency.’) This fish-community 
of the soft bottom at about 80 fathoms it would be of interest 
to follow farther down at the greater depths of our fjords. On 
p.6—7. I have given the results of some trawlings in the fjords 
west of Bergen, at depths from 250 to 500 metres. Judging 
from these operations and material in the Bg. M. from previous 
1) The following abbreviations are used: meget alm. — very common; 
alm. = common; i vekslende antal — varying in number; eks. — specimen: 
halvvoksen — halfgrown; tilfældig — incidentally. 
