334 KNUT DAHL. 



viewed, is correct, I personally entertain some doubts. Probably 

 the progress is proportional up to certain point; but when this point 

 is reached, the production of each new individual will demand 

 a proportionally larger and larger number of eggs. It is even 

 probable that this question as regards the salmon will be highly 

 dependant on the power the rivers have of sustaining and nourishing 

 the fry and young. If the young fish could only reach the ocean, 

 this would evidently present greater chances of development and 

 provide food for essentially larger numbers of salmon than at 

 present. 



It may, however, be taken as granted that the spawning in 

 the rivers could far surpass the present spawning, before the 

 young produced would not be able to find sufficient food. Even 

 if this should ever happen, one might resort to ailificial rearing. 



Thus I have no doubt, that we possess the power of essentially 

 increasing the yield of the fisheries in the sea by increasing the 

 spawning in the rivers. Consequently I entertain no doubt that 

 the rational course for the state would be to secure greater 

 influence over the fishing in the rivers. 



In this opinion I feel all the more confirmed when I consider 

 the results of my own investigations. Only when the state 

 was in possession of the power of fully regulating the spawning 

 in the rivers and was more indépendant of the demands for an 

 equal distribution of the catch, the possibilities which I have 

 previously pointed out of an improvement of our sea-fisheries 

 for salmon, trout and other sea-fish could be brought into full play. 



Clearly the whole legislation relating to salmon- and trout- 

 fisheries might then be considerably reduced. 



In order to attain a realisation of the thoughts here men- 

 tioned, it will obviously be necessary to undertake a large 

 prehminary work in order to collect material iliustrative of the 

 means by which it would be possible to bring the rivers more 

 under the influence of the state. The influence of the state 

 must then, in my opinion, first of all, and in a more effective 



