674 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



of the Lake of Constance and its tributaries may become parties to 

 this treaty. 



"Those portions of the Lake of Constance and its tributaries which 

 are either on Swiss or Baden territory are subject to the articles of 

 this treaty as soon as all the other governments holding portions of the 

 Lake of Constance and its tributaries will have become parties to this 

 treaty. 



"Article IS. This treaty shall be ratified, and the customary docu- 

 ments exchanged, on the 1st March, 1870, or, if possible, at an earlier 

 date, in the city of Berne. 



"In witness whereof we have signed this treaty and affixed our seals. 



" Done in the city of Berne, December 9, 1869." 



2G. — SALT-WATER FISHERIES, AND THE LAWS RELATING TO THEM. 



There are very important salt-water fisheries on the Austrian coasts, 

 viz, in the districts of Triest, Gorz, Gradisca, and Istria, and in the 

 kingdom of Dalmatia. 



These may be considered under the divisions of high-sea fisheries and 

 coast-fisheries. The former are carried on in the open sea, and the latter 

 in gulfs and inlets and all along the coast as far as a gun-shot will reach. 



From many sources we glean the fact that the salt-water fisheries in 

 olden times contributed more to the thrift and wealth of the towns on 

 the coast than nowadays. Of the high prices which the products of 

 the sea bring in far distant markets, the poor fishermen reap but little 

 benefit. It often happens that they sell the results of their laborious 

 and dangerous trade on board their vessels to speculators for a trifling 

 sum, and these latter reap the profit of the valuable products which 

 the fishermen have brought up from the store-houses of the sea. There is 

 no doubt that a suitable organization of the salt-water fisheries on a legal 

 basis, the encouragement of such institutions as the valli dipesca, (see 

 below,) and of the trade in salt-water fish with Vienna and other large 

 cities, would increase the profits of the fishermen considerably. 



As being of special importance, we mention the so-called valli di 

 pesca, which includes inlets, canals, or brackish ponds near the coast, 

 that have been artificially closed, and are used for raising salt-water 

 fish and shell-fish. As is done by the French ministry of marine, we 

 likewise grant small strips of land near the coast to private individuals 

 for establishing such artificial waters, so that every inhabitant of the 

 coast is enabled to have his own little fish-pond or oyster-bed. 



Mr. Smarda says that the arrangements of these brackish ponds on 

 the Austrian coast far excel anything of the kind in France. 



The taking of some kinds of salt-water fish, such as sardines, 

 mackerel, and tunnies, is most profitable if carried on in common by 

 a number of fishermen, and should therefore be regulated with a view 

 to founding properly organized associations. 



The attention of legislators has most frequently been given to the 



