41 
example 4 million oysters of over ca. 7 cm. yearly, but with the obligation of 
fishing at least 5 millions. I do not doubt that the State would in this way obtain 
a better yearly return in money than it now does, and it is quite possible that 
the oyster would also become a cheaper and commoner article of food than at 
present; but the contractor could not be compelled to sell the 3 millions; and he 
would not do it if it paid him better to sell 2 millions at a higher price. Even 
to bind themselves to fish 3 millions would have a deterrent influence on people 
who did not know the fjord, but we have seen how in the earlier contracts the 
lessees engaged themselves to fish 1 million of large oysters of 83—9 cm. (1875), 
so that this was scarcely any great hindrance. The mischief involved in contracts 
now is as mentioned the impossibility of determining heforehand with accuracy, 
when the desire to purchase oysters can be again roused on the part of the gener- 
al public and to what an extent this will happen; and the contracts must run 
for a fairly long period, ca. 5 years; it will be difficult to obtain good contract 
prices for a shorter period. It might perhaps he possible to combine the two sys- 
tems, since the fjord is far too large to be fished intensively and thoroughly by 
one man unless he has abundant means at his disposal. But if the State took 
charge of the fisheries in certain parts of the fjord and let out other parts, it 
would then still remain master of the market to a certain extent and be able to 
judge for itself. It is hardly possible that any great remuneration will be gained 
in the beginning by such a method; the contract might however advisably be 
extended over a number of years and would thus give a lessee an opportunity for 
and interest in carrying on a rational fishery. Experiments in this direction should 
under all circumstances be made for small areas; the only difficulty is to obtain 
qualified persons for the work. In this way we should approach to the method 
of fishing in foreign countries: a number of small parcels or lots in private hands 
and a verv intensive fishery. We should then also learn gradually what regions 
were best suited to the fishing by the State with steamboats and dredges and 
those suited for the smaller private method of fishing. The State should provisio- 
nally chiefly regulate the import to the market and be responsible for the suffi- 
cient preservation of the stock. If men with sufficient experience and means should 
appear in the course of the next 3 years hefore the present contracts run out, it 
would be a great boon for the future of our oyster fisheries; we could then always 
discuss what methods of fishing it would be advantageous to follow. 
