ON SALMON. 45 



As regards the annual fluctuations in the average weight we find most 

 remarkable coincidences between the various districts, as will be seen from 

 the curves in the accompanying chart. (See Fig. 28.) 



In the first place we notice that the yearly variations in the average 

 weight of the fish are so considerable that they must be an important factor 

 in the annual yield of the fisheries. Secondly, we must note that these 

 variations follow one another with considerable regularity. It is obvious 

 that there must be some common cause responsible for the regularity with 

 which in the various years the average weight rises or falls simultaneously 

 in districts which are so remote from one another, 



In Finmarken the statistics are less convincing. It has been difficult 

 for me to obtain even this small amount of material from the Lakselv, 

 consisting of the fish which the lessee had caught in the State waters in 

 the years 1898 to 1909. 



We have statements also from a number.of icehouses, both in Nordland 

 and Finmarken, but unfortunately they are of no use for a direct com- 

 parison, as the division between grilse and salmon in this district is arranged 

 on a different system from that prevailing in other parts of Norway. As 

 mentioned before, throughout the rest of the country the division between 

 grilse and salmon is reckoned as 3 kilos, whereas in the northern districts 

 it varies from 3'5 and 4 kilos in Nordland and Troms0 up to 6 kilos in 

 Finmarken. This renders a direct comparison impossible, and one can 

 only form approximate estimates. 



Nevertheless, the following statistics obtained from the ice-houses in 

 Norskholmen, Tana, and Bug0nes, in Sydvaranger, for the years 1903 to 

 1908 are characteristic of East Finmarken. 



As will be seen, these figures leave one in no doubt that actual grilse 

 (i.e., fish under 3 kilos) are far less numerous than salmon. 



In the districts between Trondhjem and West Finmarken the propor- 

 tion varies considerably in different localities, and there are places where we 

 find that fish under 3 kilos are the most numerous, as, for instance, in the 

 small fjords around the Vestfjord, and possibly also on the outer side of 

 S0r0. 



So far as the southern coast is concerned, I should not like the 



