116 A RIVER OF NORWAY 



kind ; though by some writers it is thought 

 to be no other than a young Salmon." 



It is probable that the view that they are 

 different fish has never died out among the 

 more ignorant fishermen. And as an important 

 interest can always secure its expert, the net- 

 owners are finding some scientific support. 



Compared with most Norwegian rivers, grilse 

 run early here. There are stories of grilse in 

 May, but I can only speak for certain of our 

 own experience. The following are the earliest 

 dates on which we have killed grilse : 



1898 . . . . June 10. 



1899 . . . . June 8. 



1900 .... June 20. 



1901 .... June 3. 



1902 . . . . June 9. 



1903 .... June 4-. 



Of these years, 1898 and 1899 were great 

 grilse seasons. In 1900 they were very scarce, 

 only four in all being killed in June. The 

 next two years there were only moderate runs ; 

 but in 1903 they have again been exceedingly 

 numerous. 



The average weight is small over the whole 

 series of years about 3| Ib. The great majority 

 weigh from 3 Ib. to 4 Ib., but they have been 



