THE SALT-WATER FISHERIES OF BOHUSLAN. 151 



assertion that a severe winter with much ice has a beneficial influence 

 on the herring-fisheries, an assertion which has been so strongly made 

 by Professor Mlsson and others ? '^ or how could we, in any (^her way, 

 ascertain the practical working of the older fishery-laws and decide in 

 what respect and in how far the fishing-trade has improved, remained 

 stationary, or gone down f 



It will scarcely be necessary to say any more regarding the great value 

 of historical investigations in themselves and their absolute necessity 

 for gaining as complete as possible a knowledge of our fisheries. 



As regards our largest and most famous fisheries, the great periodical 

 herring-fisheries, we must in the first place not only examine the possible 

 causes (real or supposed) of the periodical cessation of these fisheries, 

 which has ijlayed such a prominent part in our fishery-legislation, but 

 also the causes of the somewhat regular changes in the course and loca- 

 tion of the fisheries, and in how far these changes depended on physical 

 conditions, &c. B3" making these investigations we obtain a great mass 

 of historical facts which will amongst the rest serve as a guide in framing 

 laws in case these great fisheries should revive." Much information 

 would also be gained in this way, throwing light on many a dark point 

 in the natural liistory of the herring and aiding in solving the difficult 

 question of the migrations of the great herring-schools. The literature 

 referring to these questions amply proves how important a comi:)lete his- 

 torical reyiew of the Bohuslan herring-fisheries is for reaching a satis- 

 factory solution of the whole herring-question.^* 



It is evident that tlie history of other fisheries will also be very inter- 

 esting and may furnish valuable material. The historical part of these 

 investigations should, therefore, by no means be omitted or neglected. 



§ IG. The investigations must finally embrace all the facts of natural 

 science, wliich will enable us to master the theoretical conditions " of a 

 successful carrying on and administration of the fisheries" in a much 

 higher degrec^than it is possible for the uneducated fisherman. A scien- 

 tific knowledge of nature forms the theoretical basis on which alone a 

 wise and beneficial management of the fisheries can be built up. We 



'- " Handlinfiar rorande, tj'c," p. 64, 67, 74, 77, 156, 163. 



A. TV. Malm, Naturliistoriska studier idetfria och: Bammaren. Gotteubiirg, 1860, p. 5. 



'^ The regular changes in the course of the great herring- fishei'ies, and the consequent 

 changes in the qnulity of the herrings require a legislation to suit these changes. Leg- 

 islation should, therefore, he guided by the experience of former centuries. The first 

 part of an approaching fishing-period cannot he considered as the standard for the 

 whole time it lasts. In all probability it will in its course undergo c<msiderabl6 

 changes, and we must, consequently, look for this standard in the corresponding part 

 of former fishing-periods. That this way of judging is correct is proved from the last 

 fishing-period (1747-1808). For many of the regulations made during the latter por- 

 tion of this period, and based on the experience of the first jiortion, proved to be anti- 

 quated and of little use, and in some cases were even more hurtful than helpful. The 

 fishermen themselves, therefore, often demanded changes in the administration and in 

 the laws. It must be said, however, that many of these changes were demanded 

 from purely egotistical reasons. 



^^Preliminar berattelse (Preliminary report) for 1873-74, p. 71-72. 



