Y -IMPROVEMENT IN THE SALMON FISHERIES OF SWEDEN. 



Extract fkom the Report of the Eoyai, Swedish Intendant of Fisheries. 1868. 



Ill 1855, the state of the fisheries iu I^orway was taken into consider- 

 ation, and establishments for iish-breeding were introduced. At the ( 

 same time protecting- laws were enacted, w^hich, in 1803 and 18G5, were ■ 

 farther amended, in accordance with the experience acquired. The ' 

 most important rivers and lakes were subdivided into fishery districts, , 

 and supervisors were appointed to insure the observation of the laws, 

 one-half of their salaries being paid by the government, the other by 

 the owners of the fisheries. By these means the same practical advan- 

 tages have been obtained as in England. As early as 1805 the inspector 

 of fisheries was able to present testimonials from Dramself, Langenself, 

 and Mandalself in proof that the protecting laws and the fish-breeding 

 establishments thus introduced had steadily increased the yield of the 

 fisheries during the last five years; in 18G8, testimonials of twelve more 

 rivers and lakes were added. With every year the satisfaction with 

 these regulations becomes greater and greater in ISTorw^ay. If we com- 

 pare the results obtained in France, where they endeavored to improve 

 the fresh- water fisheries solely by artificial breeding, we find tbem quite 

 different. From 1853 to 1805 great sums of money wei'e expended; the 

 central fish-breeding institution of the state at Hiiningen, w^hich in 

 1802 had already cost 000,000 francs, had distributed nearly thirty 

 millions of young salmonidie every year, and still the fresh-water fish- 

 eries.were found in the same bad condition as before. It is maintained 

 by some that by the establishment at Hiiningen the stock of fish had 

 not augmented in the Seine, the Loire, the Garonne, and the Rhine hj 

 more than a very few trout and other ISalmonidce. Consequently finding 

 that breeding alone would not produce the desired improvement in fresh- 

 water fisheries, it was decided to be necessary, even in 1805, to enact 

 protecting laws in order to get a firmer basis and better results for the 

 work done. 



From this brief statement it is evident that, from fish-breeding estab- 

 lishments only and solely, a considerable increase of fish is not to be 

 exi)ected, and, at the same time, that fish-breeding, in connection with 

 suitable protection and rational management, will produce equally favor- 

 able results as is the case with other industrial enterprises. 



It will also be seen how" important a position protection and proper 

 \'stem occupy in the several transactions, in cooperation producing the 



\ove-mentioned favorable results. Hence the conclusion is justified 



