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use of such nets with smaller meshes were permitted then the regulations 

 with respect to the larger ones would be quite illusory ; for haddoc-nets can 

 very well fish plaice and other flat-fishes, as with the exception of the size 

 of their meshes they are of about the same construction as the plaice-nets. 

 Here again then an effective protection by means of the size of the meshes could 

 only Lie carried out, when it was enjoined that all plaice caught in haddock- 

 nets, etc. were to be thrown into the sea again. In other words: when we 

 except the eel, the thinnest species of fish we hare, regulations as to the size 

 of the meshes will be of no avail for the protection of the fish, if then '"''-' " ll/ 

 supported by the regtdation that larger species of fish which are caught in 

 fishing-gear icith little meshes intended for other fish, are to be thrown into the 

 sea again. 



This would require a strict control daily with the fishery which is 

 carried on by every single fisherman, and would, after all, only be of any 

 avail, if the fish that were thrown out could live. 



We might set forth an objection to this, however, particularly with 

 respect to the conditions of the Limfjord: Even though the fishermen in 

 tliis fjord, in summer when the plaice-seines are forbidden, are permitted to 

 fish with eel-seines, these will generally be unfit for the catching of plaice; 

 they must be subject to a few changes; not with regard to the size of 

 tin meshes, but the lines belonging to the seine ought to he somewhat 

 longer, the weight below perhaps somewhat heavier, and the floats above 

 rather fewer in number, finally the net itself had better be carried (dan: 

 fmti to the lines a little more stretched out, so that the meshes stand more 

 stretched out, - ;^ . than if they were exclusively intended for eel-fishery. 



There is uo doubt that the takes of fiat-fish would be somewhat re- 

 duced by detailled regulations with regard to these things; but it could not 

 be quite prevented, and it is very difficult to enter into such regulations 

 in a law, as it will oftenest be a matter of opinion on which the question 

 hinges, the eel-seines proper being not »fort exactly in the same way 

 when used on different bottoms; moreover, we might easily prevent the 

 clever fisherman in his work by entering into such details of practical 

 fishery, and hinder him from improving the construction of his fishing-gear. 

 and here a constant development is going on, accompanied by constant experi- 

 ments which it would be very wrong to prevent. 



Finally, it could not be expected that the takes of small plaice would 

 be quite prevented in this way; it would only be somewhat diminished, 

 and it is my opinion that we had better think twice before entering into 



