A STUDY ON TROUT AND YOUNG SALMON. 299 



and trout, we find, that these provisions may mainly be classi- 

 fied under the following heads. 



1) Prohibition of the employment of net gear with a smaller 

 mesh than 5,8 cm. between the knots (when wet). 



2) Prohibition of the catching and sale of salmon and sea- 

 trout under 21 cm. in length. 



3) Order to set free salmon under 55 and sea- trout under 

 40 cm. length, provided they are caught in gear with a 

 smaller mesh than 5,8 cm. between the knots or are acci- 

 dentally caught in the annual close time. 



4) Protection of river mouths and their immediate surround- 

 ings, by prohibition of any sort of net fishing gear of a 

 smaller mesh than 5,8 cm. between the knots. (Some 

 exceptions for large herring-seines). 



The 3 first of these prohibitions are fixed by law; the last 

 one is effected by „Royal Resolution" upon petition from district 

 and county councils. 



The first prohibition is mainly intended to regulate the 

 large industry. The other is mainly directed against sport- 

 fishing or fishing with hook gear generally. The third chiefly 

 aims at hmiting the accidental or occasional catching of 

 salmon or trout occurring in the fishing for other seafish with 

 other gear than that permitted for catching salmon or trout, and 

 finally the fourth prohibition aims at protecting the young 

 salmon in such localities where they are supposed to be easily 

 caught in numbers during fishing with net gear for other fish. 



These regulations are, excepting the difference in the size 

 limit at which salmon and trout are to be set free, mentioned 

 under 3), uniform for salmon as well as trout and apply to 

 salmon as well as to trout rivers. 



h. Protection of young salmon. 

 In the introduction I have mentioned that these regulations 

 almost totally prevent a lawful fishing for sea-trout, 



