670 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



The community of interests is still more striking in rivers which fcrin 

 the boundary -line between different countries. Of what use would it 

 be to prescribe times of protection when the fishermen on the right 

 bank were not allowed to fish, if those on the left bank were allowed 

 to catch all through the spawning season ? 



In such a manner are the Austrian fisheries, especially the more valu- 

 able ones, such as those for salmon in Bohemia, Moravia, Silesia, and 

 Galicia, dependent on those of the neighboring countries. The absence 

 of a good fishing-law in North Germany, more especially respecting 

 lawful seasons of protection; the lack of any law regarding places of 

 protection ; the utterly destructive way in which here and there salmon 

 are caught with seines; the many weirs and other hydraulic construc- 

 tions in most North German rivers, which hitherto have not been made 

 harmless by fish-passes; the poisoning of the waters by the introduction 

 of noxious substances; the numerous automatic salmon and eel traps 

 near the mills in those rivers and streams which from our country flow 

 into North Germany ; all these causes combined have injured our sal- 

 mon-fisheries to such a degree that at present but few salmon ascend 

 to our waters from the sea. 



The Austrian government, for these reasons, endeavored to conclude 

 treaties with all the states bordering on the Elbe, as early as 1857, so 

 as to secure the free passage of salmon and eels from the sea to the 

 Bohemian waters and vice versa. These negotiations have been inter- 

 rupted, but will be taken up again. 



It has been proposed to conclude treaties establishing uniform regu- 

 lations between Baden, Bavaria, Lichtenstein, Austria, Wiirtemberg, 

 and several cantons of Switzerland for the benefit of the fisheries in 

 the Lake of Constance and its tributaries. Such a treaty was, on De- 

 cember 9, 1869, concluded between the Baden government and the 

 Swiss federal council. 



A similar treaty was concluded November 27, 18G9, by the delegates 

 of all the states on the Lower Bhine, from Basle downward, but failed 

 to be ratified by the Dutch government, as the lower house of the par- 

 liament, by a majority of four, voted against the treaty; and it is sought 

 to reach a uniform legislation by other means. 



In the Netherlands, there is at present a new law in preparation, 

 which is to regulate the salmon-fisheries in the Bhine; and the Deutsche 

 Fisherei- Verein hopes, by laying its suggestions before the most famous 

 ichthyologists, both at home and abroad, to induce the Dutch gov- 

 ernment, in its own interest, to pass not only such laws as will include 

 the Mannheim propositions, but will even be an improvement on them 

 by prohibiting the catching of salmon in the Bhine for at least thirty- 

 six hours every week. 



A fishing-treaty between all the states bordering on the Danube has 

 been proposed, as likewise one relating to the fisheries in Lake Garda 

 between the Austrian and Italian governments. 



