ON TIIE FISHERIES OF NORWAY. 27 



of this police amount annually to about 7,000 Norwegian "specie dalers," 

 ($7,966). 



A similar sea-police lias been organized for the spring-herring fish- 

 eries by the law of September 24, 1851, modified by the amendments of 

 August 28, 1854, March 21, 1SG0, June 22, 18G3, and March 27, 18G9. 

 The annual expenses of this police, which formerly amounted to 10,000 

 Norwegian " specie dalers," ($11,3S0,) have been reduced, during the 

 last few years, to 4,000 " specie dalers, ($4,552.) 



It has also been found necessary to strengthen the local police for the 

 great-herring fisheries. There has not, however, been the same amount 

 of inspection for these as for the Loffoden and spring-herring fisheries. 



Legislation with regard to the great-herring fisheries is comprised in 

 the laws of April 25, 18G3, as amended May 22, 1869, April 20, 1872, 

 and April 5, 1873. These laws apply generally to all herring fisheries, 

 except the spring-herring fisheries, since these are the only ones with 

 regard to which the law of Sexjtember 24, 1851, with its amendments, is 

 in force. 



The Finmarken haddock fisheries are regulated by the law of Septem- 

 ber 13, 1830, some of whose provisions, however, were annulled by the 

 law of May 18, 18G0. 



The law of 1830 is based on old and limited principles of fishing ; 

 and the question has been raised, since most of its provisions are con- 

 sidered antiquated, whether it would not be better to introduce regula- 

 tions for the Finmarken fisheries similar to those in force at the Loffo- 

 den fisheries. 



As will be seen, however, from the report of the committee appointed 

 for this purpose, made August 12, 1868, (published as " Storthing," Par- 

 liamentary document No. 79, session lSGS-'69,) the committee thought 

 it advisable, in deference to public opinion in the district, not to make 

 any changes for the time being. 



The above-mentioned law of May 18, 1SG0, contains some general pro- 

 visions for all the salt-water fisheries in the districts of Nordland and 

 Finmarken, in as far as these fisheries have not become the subject of 

 special legislation. 



In addition to the laws already mentioned a law of February 20, 1869, 

 is in force, making some changes in the regulations concerning fines. 



We must consider the law of July 26, 1781, concerning the preparing 

 of so-called " round-fish," (rund-fish,) in the districts of Komsdal and 

 Sondmore, as nearly antiquated ; also the law of December 21, 1792, 

 concerning the haddock fisheries in the district of Fosen ; the law of 

 August 21, 1821, concerning the fisheries near Skudesnoes, and the law 

 of the same date regarding the spring-haddock fisheries in the Borgen- 

 fjord (bay) of the Sondmore district. 



"With special reference to those salt-water bays and inlets which in- 

 deed may be considered as inclosed basins, and whose abundance of 

 fish is supposed to be chiefly dependent on local increase, the law of 



