268 Angling Travels in Norway. 



parts, this difficulty is somewhat enhanced, as it is often 

 the custom to bestow the term " Lax " (Salmo salar) upon 

 sea-trout. 



In nine cases out of ten the distinction between the 

 two species is known, and I think the term " Lax " is 

 applied thus generally for these reasons, that for eating 

 purposes in their homes the two fish are of equal value, 

 and the people are so little educated in the sport of 

 angling that they see no diflerence in this respect between 

 a 10-lb. salmon and a 10-lb. sea-trout. I am speaking 

 of districts practically beyond the range of markets, and 

 it should be not«d that the Norwegians in the country 

 always put fish into the salt-tub, for they so prefer tliem 

 to fresh fish. 



It amounts to this — that the farmers fish, shoot, and 

 trap for the pot alone, except it be for reward ; and, 

 inasmuch as your attendant or boatman is often one of 

 this class, the reasons he adduces to account for the 

 absence of fish are frequently more ingenious than 

 correct, his principal object being, in their united interests, 

 to retain the angler as long as possible in the district. 

 I do not mean to say that the above is always the case, 

 for I have met several men who have told me in a 

 straightforward manner the truth about a river, but I 

 liave more frequently derived this information after I have 

 discovered it for myself, and, so to say, the game was up. 



