720 HISTORY AND METHODS OP THE FISHERIES. 



" ' 3. The fishing or selling of lobsters during a period when it is forbidden in accordance with 

 sections 1 and 2 is punished with a fine of 24 cents for every lobster caught or offered for sale con- 

 trary to law. 



" ' 4. All cases arising from transgressions of the regulations contained in sections 1 and 2 must 

 be brought before the police courts. If any one is accused of such transgression, the chief of police 

 in the district shall get his declaration whether he is willing to pay the fines. If he is willing and 

 does not possess the necessary amount of money, it shall be levied on his property. If, on the 

 other hand, the accused denies his guilt, or refuses to pay, the above-mentioned officer shall have 

 the matter investigated and settled. The fines shall be divided between the informer and the local 

 poor-fund. 



" ' 5. During the period when, in accordance with sections 1 and 2, it is forbidden to catch or 

 offer for sale lobsters, as well as during eight days following the end of this period, it shall like- 

 wise be forbidden to ship lobsters to foreign parts. Attempted or actual transgressions of this 

 article shall be punished in the same manner as provided in the law of September 20, 1845, regard- 

 ing attempted or actual smuggling. 



" ' 6. This law shall take effect January 1, 1849.' 



" In the committee to which the royal proposition was assigned for consideration, the first two 

 articles were changed, so as to make the season of protection stricter. In the royal proposition 

 the local authorities could under special circumstances propose that the season of protection be 

 extended to the months before and after August; but the committee were of the opinion that the 

 law should be enforced during a longer period, but in special cases the local authorities might 

 propose that it should be limited to the month of August, to such a degree had public opinion 

 changed in favor of such protective law. 



" When the matter was discussed in the Storthing April 29, 1848, not a voice was raised 

 against a protective law, but the discussion was chiefly as to whether the law should be adopted 

 iu its stricter form as recommended by the committee, or as proposed by the Government. The 

 law was finally adopted in tbe form recommended by the committee, modified by an amendment 

 that the season of protection should last from July 15 to the end of September. The first portion 

 of section 5 was also changed so as to read as follows: 'Eight days after the beginning of the 

 period during which, iu accordance with sections 1 and 2, it is forbidden to catch lobsters or offer 

 them for sale till eight days after the end of this period, it shall be likewise forbidden to ship lob- 

 sters to foreign parts.' As for the rest, the law was passed iu the shape recommended by the 

 committee; a motion to change the above-mentioned eight days to twelve days or three weeks 

 being lost, as likewise another motion that the law should not come in force till January 1, 1850. 



" The law, which was adopted in the same shape by both houses of the Storthing, and was 

 sanctioned by the King, came to read as follows : 



" ' 1. It shall be forbidden to catch or offer for sale lobsters during the period from July 15 till 

 the end of September. 



" ' 2. In accordance with a request from the respective local authorities, this period may be 

 limited in different districts by the King; but the season of prohibition must in every case 

 embrace the whole month of August." 



3 and 4 are precisely as in the royal proposition. 



" <5. From eight days after the beginning of the period during which, in accordance with 1 

 and 2, it is forbidden to catch lobsters or offer them for sale, till eight days after the end of this 

 period, it shall likewise be forbidden to export lobsters to foreign parts. 



" '6. This law shall come into force January 1, 1849.' 



