The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-03-10
WHERE IS The COD ?
An Important and Terrifying Cues
ton to Starving Norwegian
Fishermen.

The Seals Seem to Have Driven the
Food Fish Away-Govern-
ment Takes Action.
Correspondence of The journal.
Christiania, Norway, Feb. 25.--The news |
that America is willing to aid the fam
inc stricken people of northern Sweden
and Finland, and also the needy ones
among tho fishermen Of northern Norway,
the Lofoten islands and Finmarken has
been commented upon by local papers of
late. The special endeavors of Minnesota
seem to- get due credit. That the exist
ing conditions, both in the northern part
of Sweden and in Finland, are such that
help is needed and needed badly, too, is
beyond doubt. AS to the northern part of
Norway, no definite report or appeal has
been made so far. Last years crop was
a failure in those regions, and so far this
year, the well-known annual codfsheries,
which generally commence a little after
New Year and last till the middle of April
have brought nothing. There is no doubt
whatever that if for the next month and
half this, the main resource for the peo-
pie of those districts, should prove fail
ure, actual suffering for the necessities
of life will prevail. The codflsheries of
the Lofoten islands are world-known, and
the catch in good seasons is as high as
100000 cod, and 100000 is considered
a fair average for year. This year, so
far, the catch has been nothing. The rea-
son for the absence Of the fish this year
has as yet not been officially agreed upon.
Enemies of the Cod. p
There are two animals of the sea that
play an important part in the fsherman's
SfoE N1No1 o1oS h fr~t1 hot hi
fellow chases the fish toward land, while
the seal is his foe, and known as the
worst scarecrow to the fish. The fisher
men of Nordland have long been work.
| ing for the passage Of a bill protecting
| the whale, while the owners Of whaling
vessels are fighting equally hard against
such a bill. Who will be the winner re-
mains to be seen. -
| Usually every year in May, when the
great fisheries are over, flocks Of seal
come down from the Arctic ocean towards
the northern coast Of Norway. This year,
however, things seem to be reversed. The
unwelcome seal put in an appearance early
in January, and the cod stayed away.
This particular kind of seal, known in
Norwegian as '.Russekobben,'' is in real
ity what is otherwise known as the Green
land seal (Phoca Groenlandica), and is
about Az feet long. This creature has
| this year come to the coast Of Nordland
in extraordinarily large numbers. The
| government has taken this seal matter III
hand by appropriating prize money for
their destruction, and an official fighting
fund. Loans have also been made to the
fishermen by the state, enabling them tc
tbuy nets for catching the SEAL and every
seal caught brings 10 kroner ($2.70).
i Another reason for the disappearance Of
the cod put forth is that Norway's ole
friend. the Gulf Stream, has made some
changes in it's course, so that the colo
currents Of the Arctic ocean come too fal
south, and thereby make the Lofote1
banks too chilly for spawning grounds fol
the fish.
Busge on Scandinavian Unity.
l. OF other late happenings in Norway
one that has stirred up a great deal Of
talk as we'll as discussion in the press O.
the Scandinavian countries, is the speech
delivered by Professor Sophus Bugge, OF
Feb. in Studentersamfunder (The Stu
I dents Club). Professor Bugge is nov
20 years old and has devoted most of hi
, time to the study Of the Scandinavian Ian
; guages and the ancient history Of thes'
countries, and he is considered the high
est living authority on these subjects. HI
t is an unassuming gentleman of whom
:. the celebrated historian Momsen is quote'
| as saying: IT know but one Norwegian
/ who is modest, and that IS Professo
/ Bugge.' There was, perhaps, more trut
imam poetry III ludL ScIIeIlCS.
In his speech Professor Bugge said Il
t part: Dear Norwegian Students: Soo1
> will the free language Of the north b
. silenced in the land Of Runeberg, Topel1u
and Nordenskjold (Finland), = where !
has sounded since before the dawn OF his
: tory Has not then the proper tim
\ come for us to wake up and fully realiz
that Scandinavian culture is a valuabl
= joint treasury which it is the duty Of tn
: three Scandinavian peoples to defend
= Has not now the hour arrived when tn
= name 'Norden' is able to warm and fl
= young hearts in the three Scandinavia
> countries? Now must, T believe, If W
shall not be stricken from the list Q
nations, the name Norden become
sacred name to Danes, Swedes and Nor
: | wegians not in opposition to the nam
= of their respective fatherlands, but
s harmony Herewith. The appreciation
y the value of Scandinavian culture an
languages must, if we shall remain as ma
lions among nations, be fully realiz et
\ must become full Of life and activit
throughout every class Of people in tn
Scandinavian countries + therefore as
you, Norwegia1Dst If there are NJ
+ among you some who will join forces an
work for the promotion of knoWledg
| concord and a brotherly understandin
between the people of the three Scand
nayian countries? It should be no poll
ical work, and I wish we could gath'
men from the different political parti'
around this idea; and not men only, he
;, the women must be with us. We nee
S, her quiet honest, untiring work. The al
' of this Scandinavian work shall not
}. to form a union but to create unity
(, This speech has laid down program f
a work so great, that only a faint que
m can at present be made at its impo
1t lance. ..~
Of On the Esd inst. a notable Norwegian
a, learning was called away when Profess
IN Gustav Strom died at the age of 81. Stro
made history the study Of his life.
ID the average man his ';Snorre Strulaso
"a Sagas of the Kings is best known. T
IF was also an authority on Left Erickson
It. and Columbus discoveries of America.
al also made the North American India
to a subject for his researches and deli
mr. cred series Of interesting lectures on thu
ethnology. The Norwegian people, a.
the Norwegian university, especially, su
tanned great loss by his death.
IN. A.