THE FISHERY INTERESTS OF AUSTRIA. 657 



which is fed from the Lake of Ceppich, the lake itself, and the small 

 rivers Quieto and Kisano, are but little suited for fisheries. 



Gorz and Gradisca possess fresh-water fisheries in the Isonzo and its 

 tributaries, and in Wippach. The other streams have a full supply of 

 water only during continued heavy rains, and the coast streams and 

 canals are of no importance. 



During the sessions of the Ecumenical Council of 1870, trout were for 

 the first time sent regularly from Gorz to Koine. It is thought that arti- 

 ficial fish-culture could be successfully introduced through associations. 

 At present, there are no fishing-laws whatever. 



Dalmatia is, according to Heckel and Kner, a very interesting country 

 for ichthyologists, not on account of its wealth offish, but on account of 

 its great number of fresh-water species. In this respect, it is the most in- 

 teresting portion of Austria ; for, in its, for the greater part, insignificant 

 streams, it has not only many species of fish similar to those of Lom- 

 bardy and Southern Italy, but likewise a great many which are peculiar 

 to this province, and which, continuing through Bosnia toward the East, 

 are related to Syrian fish, and through these again to those of India. 



It must, therefore, be regretted, from a purely scientific point of view, 

 that pisciculture, like nearly all other branahes of culture, is entirely neg- 

 lected in this province. 



Besides numerous smaller streams, which are entirely dry daring sum- 

 mer, Dalmatia has several coast rivers and lakes. The former are 

 particularly rich in fish near their mouths, which actually form arms or 

 bays of the sea. Especially is this the case with the river Narenta, 

 which is rich in eels, pike, and other fish. The total absence of any 

 fishing-laws and regulations has prevented fishing in the rivers and 

 lakes from becoming a source of income to the population. 



Eishiug in the rivers is generally free; only in some portions thereof 

 the privilege to catch trout and eels has been reserved to private indi- 

 viduals, communities, or corporations, such as convents, through so- 

 called "investitures ;" legal documents dating from the times of the Vene- 

 tian Republic : thus, the Franciscan convent of Vissovaz has the exclu- 

 sive right to fish in the river Kerka, from the Slap Falls to the Scardona 

 Falls ; and the village of Almissa has the same exclusive right at the 

 mouth of the river Cettina. In many waters, the fisheries were rented 

 by the government, which is still the case at the mouth of the Narenta. 

 Fresh-water fish are never offered for sale, and there is no market for 

 them. 



In the marshes and waters of the Narenta Valley, there were, in former 

 times, extensive eel-fisheries ; but these have likewise decreased very 

 much in value through the unpardonable neglect of the last few years. 



The government has the right to fish at the mouths of the Torino and 



Pranjak, in the Jesero Malo and the Cernarizza, in the valley of Cutti, 



likewise at the mouth of the Pulinica, in the district of Logorie, which 



right is mostly rented. The total annual revenue was, however, only 

 42 F 



