The Hamburg/SAO survey for emission-line galaxies IV. The fourth list of 119 galaxies

We present the fourth list with results** of the Hamburg/SAO Survey for Emi ssion-Line Galaxies (HSS hereafter, SAO - Special Astrophysical Observatory , Russia). The list is a result of the follow-up spectroscopy conducted wit h the 6m SAO RAS telescope in 1998, 1999 and 2000. The data of this snap-sh ot spectroscopy survey confirmed 127 emission-line objects out of 176 obser ved candidates and allowed their quantitative spectral classification. We c ould classify 76 emission-line objects as BCG /H-II galaxies or probable BC Gs, 8 - as QSOs, 2 - as Seyfert galaxies, 2 - as super-associations in a su bluminous spiral and an irregular galaxy, and 37 as low-excitation objects - either starburst nuclei (SBN), or dwarf amorphous nuclei starburst galaxi es (DANS). We could not classify 2 ELGs. Furthermore, for 5 galaxies we did not detect any significant emission lines. For 91 emission-line galaxies, the redshifts and/or line intensities are determined for the first time. Of the remaining 28 previously known ELGs we give either improved data on the line intensities or some independent measurements. The candidates were tak en from three different samples selected by different criteria. Among our f irst priority candidates we achieved a detection rate of emission-line obje cts (ELGs + QSOs) of 68%, among which 51% are BCGs. Observations of a rando m selected sample among our second priority candidates showed that only app roximate to 10% are BCGs. We found that the confirmed BCGs have usually a b lue colour ((B - R) < 1(m)0) and a non-stellar appearance in the APM databa se. Our third sample is comprised of second priority candidates fulfilling these criteria derived from the APM. Follow-up spectroscopy of a small subs ample indicates that the expected detection rate fur BCGs is <approximate t o>40%.