576 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



Twenty -five years ago one might have seen, in the Vienna markets, 

 immense sturgeons, frequently 10 to 15, each weighing 250 to 500 pounds. 



The wealth offish in our beautiful mountain lakes and in the numer- 

 ous rivers and streams in the Austrian Alps was world-renowned. 



The saying of M. Coste, who, imitating a well-known wish of Henry 

 IV, promised, after the introduction of artificial fish-breeding, a trout to 

 every Frenchman, seemed to be fulfilled in Austria. 



5. — THE PRESENT CONDITION OF THE FISHERIES AND ITS CAUSES. 



In our day, most of the waters are almost depopulated ; salmon and 

 trout formerly nearly worthless, being counted among dainties which 

 only the wealthy can enjoy. In many waters formerly visited by migra- 

 tory fish, especially salmon, these migrations have ceased entirely ; 

 fishing-privileges, once highly valued, have in most places become 

 worthless, and the fishing trade is languishing. Not only has the quan- 

 tity of fish decreased, but the number of fine and full-grown specimens 

 of the better kind of fish has also diminished considerably. In former 

 times, when fishing in our rivers and lakes was carried on with due 

 regard to the protection of the younger generations of fish, they grew 

 to a considerable size, aud the pictures in some of our old castles and 

 town halls, of fish caught in the olden times, represent them of aston- 

 ishing dimensions. In many cases, the cause of this depopulation of 

 the waters must be found in the advance of human civilization, driving 

 back animal creation. 



The waves produced by steamers disturb and drive away the fish, 

 throw a large number of eggs and young fish on shore, or cover them 

 with mud in the spawning places. Embankments and other river im- 

 provements made in the interest of navigation, or as a protection against 

 inundations or the formation of marshes, make the water-courses nar- 

 rower, destroying many favorable spawning and breeding places, and 

 drying many sheets of water entirely. The lowering of lakes destroys 

 many of the old overgrown spawning places among the reeds and bushes 

 on the shores; the increased number of water- works, especially of weirs 

 aud sluices for industrial purposes, likewise disturbs the propagation of 

 fish, and makes their migration to the spawning grounds either very diffi- 

 cult or entirely impossible. Of the so-called salmon and trout paths, so 

 successfully introduced in other countries, so far but little use has been 

 made with us. 



The constantly increasing devices for irrigation and for draining, 

 made with a view to heightened agricultural productiveness ; contriv- 

 ances for floating lumber down the streams ; the introduction into the 

 water of hurtful salts, coloring matter, and other refuse of industrial and 

 agricultural establishments ; the filth of cities; the innumerable small 

 particles of coal from steamers and factories, gas works, &c, are all 

 injurious to the fisheries, as they are apt to kill the young fish. After 

 every violent rain, which washes out the old heaps of rubbish near alum 



