302 KNUT DAHL. 



According to pt. 3) salmon not exceeding 55 and trout 

 smaller than 40 cm. are to be set fi-ee when caught during the 

 annual close time or in gear of a smaller mesh than that permitted 

 by law. A closer consideration of this provision will show, that 

 the advantage gained for the salmon fisheries by this regulation 

 is exceedingly small. 



The difficulty in distinguishing between salmon and trout 

 in the younger stages has been the main cause of this regulation. 

 Working under the presumption, that numbers of young salmon 

 occurred among the „sea-trout", the authorities have not dared 

 to fix the size limit for sea-trout lower than 40 cm. 



However in fixing the size limit, at which salmon should 

 be set free, one has also laboured under a delusion. The 

 object of this provision of course was to prevent the fishermen 

 from retaining salmon of a smaller size than the smallest caught 

 in gear possessing the minimum mesh allowed by law. 



However, if we examine the tables on the individual size 

 and weight of the salmon caught in our waters, prepared by 

 Mr. Landmark, we observe that not inconsiderable quantities 

 of salmon smaller than 55 cm., are caught in lawful gear and 

 are sold in accordance with the regulations. 



In the comparative table on the relation between length 

 and weight in salmon, which is published by Mr. Landmark in 

 his report for 1895 — 96 doc. nr. 6, the minimum length of the 

 salmon proves to be 50 cm. 



I myself have not rarely measured salmon of 49 and 48 cm. 

 in the fish stores of Mr. Thams in Trondhjem. Upon rare 

 occasions I have found fishes as small as 45 cm. All these 

 fishes are caught in gear of the lawful mesh. 



If we now keep in mind, that I have not during my re- 

 searches in our waters succeeded in procuring salmon of a 

 smaller size than the above-mentioned (excepting fry, emigrating 

 young and young salmon in the open ocean), clearly the pro- 



