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Med Hensyn til Dyrelivets Forhold i den omhandlede
Havstrækning er vor Kundskab omtrent paa det samme
Trin som med Hensyn til de fysiske Forhold. Denne
Havstrækning er hidtil saagodtsom slet ikke undersøgt og meget
synes at lade formode, at Dyrelivet her saavel oppe i Søen
som paa de største Dyb vil vise sig særdeles rigt
udviklet. Navnlig vil der til de paa de store Dybder (som
her gaa ned til over 2000 Favne) levende Dyrformer knytte
sig en ganske særlig Interesse ikke blot i zoologisk men
ogsaa i geologisk Henseende, da det allerede har vist sig,
at saadanne Dybvandsdyr ofte kunne aabne os ganske
uventede Indblik i vor Jordklodes tidligere Forandringer. Det
lidet vi til Dato kjende om de fysiske Forhold i den
omtalte Havstrækning, tør nu ogsaa lade os formode, at der
efter al Sandsynlighed her vil findes et rigere og mere
varieret Dyreliv i Dybet, end maaske i nogen anden Del
af Verdenshavene, og at man derfor netop her lettest vil
kunne faa løst mange endnu uafgjorte Spørgsmaal
vedkommende Dyrelivets Udbredning i Havets Dybder og Forhold
til tidligere Jordperioders Dyreliv. De engelske
Expeditioner med “Lightning” og “Porcupine” have allerede
tilstrækkeligt vist os, hvilket vidt Felt for fremtidige
Undersøgelser, berørende de vigtigste Spørgsmaal i
Naturvidenskaben, der her ligger aabent for os, og det er ganske
naturligt, at den videnskabelige Verden ogsaa venter, at der
fra vort Lands Side skal gjøres noget til Fremme af en
Sag, der er af saa stor Betydning for Videnskaben og hvori
allerede saa mange Nationer have taget virksom Del.
Vi have ogsaa en dobbelt Opfordring hertil, da der
ved Siden af de rent videnskabelige Resultater ogsaa kan
ventes opnaaet Resultater af stor praktisk Betydning for
vort Land. At Undersøgelserne af de fysiske Forhold i
denne Havstrækning vil give vigtige Bidrag til
Bedømmelsen af Vejrforholdene langs vor meget befærdede Vestkyst
og derved altsaa komme Kystbefolkningen tilgode under
dens haarde og farlige Bedrift tilsøs, er vel utvivlsomt.
Ogsaa er det at vente, at mange Spørgsmaal vedkommende
vore vigtigste Fiskerier herved vil kunne løses. Navnlig
gjælder dette de for vort Land saa vigtige Sildefiskerier.
Som allerede Undertegnede Sars har udtalt, er der al
Sandsynlighed for, at de store Sildemasser, der om
Vinteren og Vaaren besøge vore Kyster, netop have sit egentlige
Tilhold i den omtalte Havstrækning, og at de Variationer,
som gjennem Tidernes Løb ere iagttagne ved
Vaarsildfiskerierne, væsentlig afhænge af og betinges af de forskjellige
meteorologiske Forhold i det udenfor liggende Hav.
Den store saavel videnskabelige som praktiske
Interesse, der saaledes knytter sig til Kundskaben om vort
Vesterhavs Naturforhold, gjør det i mange Henseender
ønskeligt, at en saadan Kundskab erhverves saa snart og saa
fuldstændigt som muligt. En gradevis Fremgangsmaade
med Benyttelse af de forhaandenværende Hjelpemidler vil
Of the fauna inhabiting the tract of ocean referred
to in this Memorial, our present knowledge is no less
limited than of its physical conditions. This extensive
region has never yet been made the field of zoological
investigation; and there is much to warrant our assuming,
that the animal life prevailing there will prove to be
distinguished alike at the surface and in the greatest depths
by a high degree of development. And moreover, peculiar
interest will attach to forms of animal life occurring in
the great depths (upwards of 2000 fathoms), not only from
a zoological, but also from a geological point of view,
inasmuch as deep-sea animals have frequently afforded an
unexpected insight into the earlier transformations of our
planet. From the little at present known of the physical
conditions distinguishing the aforesaid ocean-tract, we may
infer, that, inhabiting its depths, will be in all probability
found a fauna more extensive and varied than, perhaps,
in any other part of the ocean: and hence that we may
rely on its furnishing exceptional facilities for the
elucidation of many still unsettled questions touching the
occurrence of deep-sea animals, and the conditions affecting
animal life in former geological periods. The results of the
British Expeditions with the “Lightning” and the
“Porcupine” have shown us how wide a field of research this
subject opens, bearing as it does on the weightiest problems
in Physics and Natural History; and it is but natural that
our country should now be expected to contribute her quota
towards the advancement of a cause so important to the
interests of Science, and in which so many nations have
already taken active part.
Besides, we have in this case an additional motive to
impel us, since, apart from scientific expectations, there
is reason to conclude that great material advantage would
accrue to the country at large. Thus, for instance, a
thorough investigation of the physical conditions peculiar
to the said ocean-tract, must very materially assist in
throwing light upon the meteorological influences so potent in
determining the weather on our western shores, and thereby
render special service to the coastal population when
engaged in their arduous avocations. Moreover, many now
open questions affecting the most important of our fisheries,
would, we may reasonably opine, be elucidated. This refers
in particular to the great periodical herring-fisheries. As
already suggested by one of your memorialists (Sars), it is
in all probability this tract of ocean within which lie the
true haunts of those enormous shoals of herrings that in
the winter and spring annually repair to our shores; arid
the marked irregularity of occurrence, observed, in the
course of years, after a longer or shorter interval, to
distinguish these fisheries, may no doubt be traced to
meteorological influence at work off the coast.
Hence, as very great benefit would assuredly result
alike to Science and to the material interests of the nation
from an intimate knowledge of the physical and biological
conditions distinguishing the Norwegian Seas, the sooner
and the fuller, in our judgment, that knowledge be
acquired, the better. A gradual mode of procedure, using
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