430 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [16] 



times happens that one and the same row of " hommor " has several 

 owners, the outer ones belonging to one and th» inner ones to another, 

 there is frequent occasion for quarrels and lawsuits. As was stated 

 above, the distances between the different eel-fisheries are generally 

 carefully defined, as well as the number of " hommor," but there are no 

 rules as to how far from the coast the right of fishing shall extend. As 

 the price of eels has risen the fisheries have sometimes been extended 

 as fcir as local circumstances would permit. At the present time the 

 " hommor" are set out much farther and in greater number than was 

 the case formerly. Thus, near Kivik, " hommor" are now set at a depth 

 of 9 or 10 fathoms. The fishing population proper, however, is excluded 

 from these easy and profitable fisheries, and, displeased with this, they 

 have during the last few years, in several places, attempted to set 

 ''hommor" beyond the boundary lines of the old fishing grounds, 

 claiming that these could not extend farther than the so-called land 

 ground [land-grund) extends according to the fishery law of 1852. This 

 has given rise to quarrels and lawsuits between the fishermen and the 

 owners of the taxed fisheries. The same has taken place in Denmark, 

 where circumstances are very similar. It is certainly not to be won- 

 dered at that the fishermen feel hurt at seeing themselves exclusively 

 confined to the difficult and, comparatively speaking, less remunerative 

 sea fisheries ; but, ou the other hand, it cannot be denied that an equi- 

 table arrangement of the mutual rights would in this case be connected 

 with great difficulties. It is, at all events, desirable that there should 

 be some distinct legislation on this point. As for the rest, there does 

 not seem to be any necessity for other administrative measures relative 

 to these eel-fisheries. 



