THE FISHERY INTERESTS OF AUSTRIA. 647 



In the general fishing-law, the size of the meshes in all nets is exactly 

 prescribed by a model block, of which an illustration is given in the text. 

 Such a block is to be kept in every town and in every market. The 

 exact size of the openings in box-nets is likewise given. They must not 

 be placed in such a manuer as to disturb navigation in the rivers. 



]STo fisherman is allowed to interfere with the fisheries of another. 

 Fishing in the Traun at night-time is entirely prohibited. The drag-nets 

 forbidden by former fishing-laws are now permitted, but only for smaller 

 fish, and during the period from St. Martin's Day (November 11) till 

 Shrove Tuesday. 



The owners or lessees of hereditary fisheries must observe the same 



rules. 



Millers, owners of founderies, and other manufacturers shall abstain 

 from all fishing in the waters flowing past their establishments, because 

 thereby the finer kinds of fish might be exterminated, even if some of 

 them should possess the privilege to fish as far as they can throw a ham- 

 mer or pick. They are forbidden to fish with bow-nets, and even with 

 hook and line, unless they have received a special permit. When, in 

 cases of necessity, they wish to turn off the mill-streams, they must an- 

 nounce their intention to the privilege-holder three days beforehand, 

 in order that the stock of fish be not destroyed. The privilege-holders 

 are obliged to permit this fqur times a year. In the common or free fish- 

 ing-waters, no person is allowed to fish, unless he possesses fields and 

 meadows in common with his neighbors. 



The neighbors are only allowed to fish two days in every week, viz, 

 Thursdays and Fridays, with small nets with the meshes made of the size 

 of the model block. Fishing at night and the taking of crawfish in the 

 free streams are entirely prohibited. Those living near the waters who 

 find any one violating this rule are empowered to take all his fishing- 

 tackle and fish, and it is provided that the government shall punish 

 the transgressor. 



Any person who stuns the fish with prepared pellets so as to enable 

 him to catch them with his hand shall undergo a severe corporal pun- 

 ishment. 



No one is allowed to dig pits or to make marshes alongside of a fishing- 

 water, for the purpose of fishing. Wherever there are such pits or 

 marshes, they shall not be shut up when the water rises and fills them, 

 so as to prevent fish which a higher water has brought into them Irom 

 returning. 



Fish remaining in uuiuclosed pits or marshes may be caught by the 

 proprietor thereof, who is, however, obliged to throw all the young ones 

 into the water. The rotting of hemp and flax in ponds, streams, and 

 fishing-waters is strictly prohibited, and the government shall see to 

 it that special pits and pools for rotting flax and hemp are prepared at 

 a suitable distance from these waters. As the fish at times go from 

 the Traun, the Enns, and other waters, into the Danube, and back again 



