TEE FRENCH SARDINE INDUSTRY. 



545 



The sardine fishery of France dates back many years, and even in 

 the early part of the eighteenth century was an important industry, but 

 it has become much more extensive since the introduction of canning. 

 The buikling of railroads has also benefited the fishery by providing 

 means of shipping to the inland points that part of the catch which 

 can not be disposed of locally. 



Sardine Fisherman's House, Brittany. 



The province of Brittany supports by far the most productive fish- 

 eries and is the center of the canning industry. Here in 1898 were 

 21,684 fishermen, with 4,611 boats, and here were caught 49,478,365 

 kilograms of sardines, selling at 7,572,347 francs. The leading center 

 is Douarnenez, wliich is credited with 4,200 fisherman, 710 boats, and 

 over 18,000,000 kilograms of sardines, valued at 2,442,000 francs. 

 Next in importance is Concarneau, with 2,695 fisherman, 490 boats, 

 and 9,163,000 kilograms of sardines, worth 1,719,890 francs. Other 

 important places in Brittany are Audierne, Quimper, Port Louis, Etel, 

 Quiberon, La Turballe and Le Croisic. Outside of Brittany the fishery 

 is most extensive at Sables-d'Olonne, St. Gilles-sur-Vie and Arcachon. 

 On the Mediterranean coast of France sardines are caught at numerous 

 places and by many fisherman, but only in relatively small quantities. 

 The fisheries here in 1898 gave emplo}Tnent to 7,794 men, using 2,861 

 boats, the catch being 2,129,519 kilograms, valued at 987,738 francs. 



Formerly in parts of Brittany nets were used to surround the 

 schools and tlien stones were thrown in to frighten the fish into the 



VOL. LIX. — 38 



