Morris tribune., 1906-03-10

wouldn't be surprised bit IL we die
not get any Holmenkol races at all
this year. The skaters are faring bet
ter, and many who otherwise would
have spent their leisure hours ON ski
are seen on the Ice. The fine ice also
furnishes the best track in the world
for trotting races. The first of the
year was held last Sunday at Frogner
kilen, where the best horses in Norway
took part, and some very fast times
were obtained. The we'll known, Nor
wegian skater, Rudolph Gandersen
has this year done honor to himself
and his country by carrying home the
championship of Europe from the big
international races recently held at
Davos. 1t is too bad no Americans
take part in those races and that Mr.
Gundersen does not go over to Amer
lea, because it seems impossible for
anybody in Europe to beat this sturdy
Norwegian, and it would be interest.
ing to find out if he is really invincibla
also on the other side of the Atlantic
He has shown ME his stock of gold
and silver medals and ] believe the
sale of them for their metal value
alone would bring sSllp sufficient for
the young man to live ON for several
years.
Norway will soon have a new series
of postage stamps and they will be
bf design to gladden. the eyes of the,
faithful philatelists to whom conven.
tionall and unvarying types have be:
come an eyeSore. The new designs
are among the most unique ever pro
posed and are likely to attract atten.
ton far beyond the circle of stamp
collectors. After the government had
recovered, its equaninIity from the re.
cent disturbances it was found that q
new issue of postage stamps was nee
essary and the artists Of the country
were invited to submit designs. The
jury awarded the first prize to Olaf
Lange and the second to Rudolph
Krogh. The flock of gulls in Mr.
Lange's drawing is spoken of by ar.
fists as an effective bit of work. On
the other hand it is criticised because
the numeral does hot designate the
value for the '3" might stand for
either "oere" or ''kroner," while
Norge" is not as plain as it should
be-
Every indication is that the catch
Of cod will be better this season than
it has been for several years. Up to
date the catch is far ahead of the last
miserable years to- the same date The
total catch for the whole country to
February 3 fyas 3.5O0.0O0. The wealth
er has been very stormy and for sew.
eral days at a time the fishermen have
been prevented frow following thei1
pursuits. he herring fisheries along
the southern coast have also given
fair returns, but unfavOrable weather
has been a great hlndrdnce there, too.
Taken all around tie harvest from the
sea has been better than those on land
during the winter. because the lack
of snow has in many districts been 4
great drawback to the hauling Of the
logs through tie woods to the water
ways which bring chem to- sawmills
The Russian seals have again ap-
peared in considerable numbers along
the coast of Norway as far south as
Kopervik. Should they come in as
large numbers as they did a few years
ago much damage will be done to the
herring fisheries. AT last accounts
the outlook for the fishermen was the
best in many years and the appear.
anee of the seals naturally causes
much anxiety. The Russian kob
ben.' as it is known to Norwegian
fishermen, is q dreaded fiend. They
travel in schools and about three
years ago the government was COM
PEELED to send out gunboats TO drive
them out by means Of shot and shell.
They are the greatest menace to the
Norwegian fishing industry on rec
ord
Mr. HeSselberg. ltiristiania'S chief
Of police for twrlitytlree years, has
been appo:nte=l secretary of the Nor
wegian cabinet His successor as
chief of police Will be Mr.. Beichmann,
former chief Of police of Trondhjem.
Mr.. Beichmann is a man of long eX-
perience in police work. having been
connected with that branch Of mu-
nicipal service since 1870. He is well
known in Christiania. where he once
was the chief Of the detective division
of the police force.