THE FISHERY INTERESTS OF AUSTRIA. 633 



can bo concluded with all the other states bordering on the Elbe. 

 The authorities seem to delay the carrying-out of the law, because they 

 wait for a general fishing-code for the whole of the German empire. 



Dr. Fric remarks that the fact of most of the shores and streams 

 being under one and the same authority greatly favors the execution 

 of the laws in Germany. 



IAibeck. — In Lubeck, the piscicultural society has drawn up rules for 

 the protection of fish during the spawning season, the size of meshes, 

 the minimum size of fish that may be offered for sale, &c. ; all of which 

 rules have been adopted by the senate in its fishing-law of December 

 16, 1868. It is a matter of regret that the senate has been induced by 

 the representations of selfish men, who were afraid to see their income 

 diminished for a short time, to change some of the most important reg- 

 ulations by an amendment of February 15, 1869. Complaints are also 

 made that the supervision of the fisheries is very defective; the market- 

 police do not exercise the necessary control, from ignorance and want of 

 interest; the directors of the fishermen's guild, whose duty it is to 

 superintend the fisheries, are themselves fishermen, and therefore but 

 rarely inclined to use the proper severity in proceeding against mem- 

 bers of their guild. It is therefore the aim of the piscicultural society 

 to have a fish-master appointed, who is to possess special powers, and 

 whose duty it shall be to superintend the fisheries. This aim has not 

 yet been attained, from purely financial reasons. 



Switzerland. — In Switzerland, there are different fishing-laws in the 

 different cantons. The most recent law is the one passed by the great 

 council of the canton of St. Gall, December 25, 1870. 



According to this law, the right to fish in the waters of the canton, 

 whenever there are no special privileges of communities, corporations, or 

 private individuals, belongs to the government. 



The right to fish in government waters may be obtained by a lease or 

 by buying a permit, (" patent.") The lease may be for a term of ten years 

 and shall be sold at public auction. 



A fishing-permit must be renewed every year. Certain specified per- 

 sons are excluded from taking out permits. A permit to fish with nets 

 and other implements costs $1, and $2 for every assistant; and a permit 

 to fish with hook and line, $1.20 ; which sums go to the treasury of the 

 canton. 



The law contains the usual regulations as to prohibited fishing-im- 

 plements, the seasons when there is to be no fishing, and the buying 

 and selling offish. 



In some waters, such as the rivers Thnr and Rhine, and in the streams 

 flowing into the Lake of Constance, the Wallen Lake, and the Lake 

 of Zurich, fishing with hook and line is alone permitted j all other 

 implements being entirely prohibited. The great council is, however, 

 empowered to permit the use of nets, if in future times the increased 

 number offish in one or all these waters should justify such use. 



