THE FISHERY INTERESTS OF AUSTRIA. 579 



practical aim that is likely to preserve them from exhaustion. Legisla- 

 tion in our country so far has not endeavored to transfer the fisheries 

 to a better class of men by regulating the system of leases, and by limit- 

 ing the powers of possessors whose titles to property are drawn up in a 

 form which is hostile to general civilization. 



The state itself has hitherto set a bad example by leasing its waters 

 in small portions and on short time to ignorant fishermen. Nowhere 

 has the lease been made on scientific principles ; frequently, the reeds 

 of lakes and ponds are leased separately, or they are given away to 

 poor peasants, in payment for work done, who capture the fish at all 

 times, even during their spawning season, thus destroying even the 

 very germs of a rational protection. 



Nowhere have new species been introduced into waters rich in inferior 

 fish and suited for the finest breeds, nor has any care been taken to 

 increase the quantity, to improve the breed by crossing it, or to estab- 

 lish places where fishing should be actually prohibited, in which places 

 artificial propagation might be utilized, or, in fact, to take any practical 

 measures for bringing to greater perfection this important industry. 



The organization of companies on a legal basis has not been at- 

 tempted anywhere ; associations of all the persons privileged to fish, 

 such as existed in great number in olden times, have nowhere been 

 formed, although they had proved eminently useful for making good 

 fishing regulations, for organizing the fisheries either for the pur- 

 pose of carrying them on in common or only for taking uniform meas- 

 ures for protecting and increasing the fish, for doing away with obnox- 

 ious privileges, for establishing fish-passages and places where fishing 

 was prohibited, for stocking the waters with a superior breed of fish, 

 for common protection, and for common sales. 



No wonder that our beautiful lakes, even those where no steamer nor 

 factory disturbs the fish, have gradually become just as depopulated as 

 our large rivers and streams. 



The increase of population and the easier means of transportation 

 have produced a much larger market for fish, and made them the 

 object of an eager pursuit by privileged and non-privileged fishermen* 

 Instead of satisfying the increased demand brought about by the 

 increase of population, through greater care in the breeding of fish 

 and by strict protective measures, a perfect system of plunder has been 

 introduced aud is tolerated. Only the immediate demand is looked to 

 and is satisfied by every means; fish-thieves of every kind plunder 

 the waters, especially peddlers, traveling musicians, and actors, who 

 seek the placidly flowing waters, the old river beds, and stupefy the fish 

 by the seeds of Cocculus indicus mixed with other bait. Since the 

 building of railroads has made blasting with dynamite more frequent, 

 not only the laborers on the railroads, but, to their disgrace be it said, 

 persons possessing fishing-privileges and farmers, have made great 

 havoc by using explosives for catching fish. Those which have been 



