604 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



ney through Bohemia and other countries on the Elbe, with a view to 

 studying the condition of the fisheries, especially the salmon fisheries and 

 their international regulation, upon which journey he has likewise pub- 

 lished a report. 



In 1868, Professor Schmarda was sent to France by the Austrian min- 

 istry of agriculture, in order to report on the condition of fish-culture 

 along the French coasts. Besides many excellent features, he observed 

 many failures, and therefore recommends, above everything else, accu- 

 rate scientific investigations as the only safe basis of future progress. 



Schmarda remarks that economical progress can only be made by 

 establishing experimental stations ; these are just as important for a 

 rational cultivation of the sea-coasts as for agriculture, and even more 

 so, because the leading principles of water culture have yet to be learned. 

 That something of the kind is necessary in order to put an end to the 

 purely empirical system of exhausting and plundering will even now be 

 clear to the unbiased observer of a large portion of the coasts of Europe. 

 No half-measure, however, should be taken in founding such institu- 

 tions, but they should be supplied with all the necessary scientific appa- 

 ratus, and naturalists should be permanently stationed there. They 

 will then flourish better than if some famous man whose time is neces- 

 sarily occupied otherwise give his name to some expensive institution, 

 buc never visit it in person. 



With the advancement of political economy, the advancement of fish- 

 culture must go hand in hand. 



In this respect, likewise, the great exertions of the Americans and En- 

 glish in investigating all the mysteries in the life of aquatic fauna, but 

 more particularly the efforts made by France, deserve to be imitated. 

 Everywhere, aquaria have been established for observing the mode of life 

 of these animals. They have partly been founded by the governments, 

 partly by scientific associations. One of the fiuest is the salt-water aqua- 

 rium at Arcachon. A great deal has been done for fresh-water fish at 

 Hiiuiugen, and for other useful aquatic animals by the institution at Con- 

 carneau, which theFreuch governmenthas established under the supervi- 

 sion of Professor Goste, at an expense of $20,000. (See Professor Sch- 

 marda's report on his visit to Concarneau, in the annual report of the min- 

 istry of agriculture for 18G8, p. 349.) In Berlin, a magnificent aquarium 

 for fresh and salt water fish and artificial fish-culture has been erected on 

 plans made by Dr. Brehm. Large aquaria are at present beiug con- 

 structed in Triest and Vienna, (in the Prater.) 



The international maritime congress held at Naples in 1871 passed 

 the following resolutions on the promotion of fish-culture, and more 

 especially of the salt-water fisheries : 



"This congress, acknowledging the importance of several inquiries 

 made with the view of ascertaining the fruitfulness of the different 

 species of fish, the number of those which reach the age of maturity, the 

 laws of individual increase, and the places and seasons best suited for 



