THE FISHERY INTERESTS OF AUSTRIA. 635 



that they do this in a productive maimer, not only can claim all those 

 favors which the law accords during the season of protection, &c.,but 

 their rent may also be lowered in proportion as they give young fish to 

 other waters of the canton. 



The district-offices keep lists of all waters, leases, and fishing-permits. 

 The local, district, and cantonal police-officers are to see that all the 

 provisions of this law are fulfilled. If necessary, special overseers over 

 the fisheries in one or more waters may be appointed. 



France. — In France, exclusive fishing-privileges were abolished by 

 the laws of July G, July 30, and September 26 1793, as being a remnant 

 of the age of feudalism. Navigable rivers and streams belong to the 

 state, and are usually rented. 



The fisheries have since been regulated by the law of April 15, 1829, 

 which gives full details of the rights of the fishing-guards to examine 

 implements, vessels, huts, tanks, &c. A few changes have been made 

 by the law of May 31, 1865, and by an imperial decree of November 

 28, 1868. 



The instructions given to the authorities to protect the fisheries in 

 every way, to use all means for improving them, to stock rivers and 

 streams with fish and crawfish, to establish places of safety, to plant the 

 banks with trees and shrubs, &c, deserve great praise. 



Italy. — In Italy, a special committee was appointed as early as 1861 

 to prepare the draught of a fishing-law ; and a new committee for the 

 same purpose was appointed in 1870. 



The government, in 1870, had reports drawn up by the prefects of all 

 the provinces relating to the several species of fish found in each pro- 

 vince, the implements used in fishing, the spawning seasons offish, &c, 

 the number of piscicultural establishments, the number of fishermen, 

 their relation to each other, the total area of water, and the existing 

 rules and regulations ; inquiries were also made regarding foreign fish- 

 eries and laws. 



On the basis of these reports, the ministry of agriculture, industry and 

 commerce, in the session of the chamber of deputies of January 24, 

 1871, laid before the chambers the draught of a fishing-law, together 

 with a lengthy report containing the results of all the inquiries. 



The annual value of the salt-water fisheries is estimated at $8,000,000, 

 and that of the fresh-water fisheries at from $600,000 to $800,000. 



As interesting to Austrian fishermen, it may be mentioned that on the 

 Italian portion of Lake Garda 500 fishing- vessels, manned by 1,400 fish- 

 ermen, are employed. The fisheries on this water, belonging partly to 

 Austria and partly to Italy, must be regulated by an international 

 arrangement, to arrive at which the first steps have been taken by 

 the Austrian ministry of agriculture. 



The draught of the new Italian fishing-law contains 54 paragraphs. 

 The separate laws of the provinces are abolished, and a uniform code 



