[3] ADMINISTRATION OF NORWEGIAN FISHERIES. 355 



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during the tweuty-five years which have elapsed the lisherios have de- 

 veloped to such a degree as to make the desire for such an administra- 

 tion stronger and more general, and to define more clearly the duties 

 which should be assigned to it. The fisnery association of the district 

 of Nordland iu its memorial dated September 29, 1881, states that "the 

 importance and necessity of such an office are so self-evident that no 

 proof is needed," and we fully agree with our northern colleagues. 



During the last twenty years the fisheries, the principal industry of 

 our country, have given rise to special ydministrativc measures; super- 

 intendents' ofiices have been established for the great fisheries; roads 

 and t<degraph lines have been constructed for the special benefit of the 

 fisheries; soundings have been taken on the banks of the sea, and charts 

 of our seas have been published ; a special fund has been created for 

 constructing harbors; another fund has been started for the benefit of 

 sick or disabled fishermen, which disburses annually about $13,400; 

 special oHicers have been appointed to superintend the freshwater fish- 

 eries; the fishery statistics have been systematized ; and on the whole 

 a good deal has been done to promote our fisheries. For all these pur- 

 poses, and for the })ractical and scientific investigations referred to, as 

 well as for the Association for the Promotion of the Norwegian Fisher- 

 ies from $160,000 to $180,000 are spent every year; and there is no 

 likelihood that these efibrts will be discontinued, but, on the contrary, 

 there is every prospect of their being increased. 



Besides those persons who have charge of the different branches of 

 activity referred to above, there are a number of other authorities, 

 functionaries, corporations, &c., who are either in direct relation with 

 the fisheries, or who publish reports, memorials, and jiropositions relat- 

 ing to them. These are district governors, mayors, consuls, trade as- 

 sociations, financial committees, &c. We therefore already possess 

 many of the elements needed iu an administration of fisheries. With 

 due regard to individual effort, it must be said that the demands of 

 the fisheries are at present to a great extent dependent on accidental 

 knowledge of the fisheries, or accidental interest taken in them by this 

 or that person; and that invariably either the one or the other is not 

 found to exist to such a degree as the true interests of the fisheries re- 

 quire. There is consequently a more urgent need than ever of having 

 our fisheries represented in the central government by an independent 

 (J. e., of other offices), competent, and responsible authority, whose ac- 

 tivity should not be confined to mere office work and the compilation 

 of statistics and information, but which should take the initiative in 

 dift'ereut enterprises, and should systematize this work. As far as we 

 know, there is no difference of opinion with regard to this matter; and 

 I if so tar nothing has been done, the reason must be sought partly in the 

 I fear of the expense connected with it, and in the uncertainty as to the 

 \ bestmanner of practically carrying out the idea ; partly, also, in thecir- 

 ' cumstance that no one interested in the fisheries has been found to 



