KNUT DAHL. 



the very same views, which have governed scientific research on 

 these matters. 



While some fishermen assert, that these different names 

 denote just as many species, others again give prominence to 

 the opinion that these small salmonids, named sea trout, are 

 nothing but young salmon. Others have stated as their 

 opinion, that among the sea trout, which they consider a 

 separate species, there is to be found a large proportion of 

 young salmon or grilse, which in these younger stages only 

 with the utmost difficulty are to be discerned from the sea trout. 



This latter theory, which is also to a certain extent sup- 

 ported by science, has been essential to the deliberations, on 

 which regulations of law concerning the salmon and sea trout- 

 fisheries of this country are founded. 



When our administration (lastest in the salmon law of 1891) 

 by the aid of different regulations, among these a regulation 

 inforcing a certain minimum-size of mesh in nets and seines, 

 sought to benefit the interests of these fisheries, it was, on 

 account of the difficulty in distinguishing between sea trout and 

 young salmon, considered impossible separately to regulate the 

 salmon and sea-trout fisheries. Accordingly both were in 

 common subjected to the regulations of the same law. 



By this law the use of a smaller mesh than 6,5 cm. 

 between the knots. (13 cm. mesh) was prohibited, as well 

 in fishing for salmon as for sea trout. The regulation size 

 of the mesh is by later laws and amendments altered to 

 5,8 cm. between the knots. The law also orders that sea-trout 

 of a smaller length than 40 cm. cought in gear with a smaller 

 mesh, (such as herring seines etc.) are to be set fi-ee. The 

 smallest allowed size for sale of salmon and seatrout is 21 cm. 



Under those regulations our sea trout fisheries have not 

 profited, as the size of the fish of wich previously the bulk of 

 the catch consisted, is to small too be retained by the regulation 

 mesh, in other words, it is a fact that a profitable fishing 



