678 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



trades or industries, are not touched in the fishing-laws of the several 

 provinces. The regulations regarding punishments are entirely anti- 

 quated, and there were no measures for making tbe law more effective, 

 even in the olden times. Most of these statutes have fallen into oblivion, 

 so that it may justly be said tbat in none of the provinces of Austria 

 do tbe fisheries enjoy that protection by laws which is an essential condi- 

 tion of their success. 



Tbe decline of tbe fisheries must, therefore, be mostly ascribed to 

 defective legislation, or, more correctly expressed, to the utter want 

 of legislation regarding the protection and practice thereof. Most 

 civilized nations are either ahead of us in making new fishing-laws 

 suited to the demands of modern science, or are on the point of re-or- 

 ganizing tbeir old ones. 



The beneficial influence of such practical laws, and of the institutions 

 called to life by them, is universally recognized among these nations, 

 and has in many cases been proved by figures. 



There is not the slightest doubt that the natural conditions in Aus- 

 tria are extremely favorable to the improvement of the fisheries. Few 

 other countries possess such a wealth of inland waters, streams, 

 rivers, brooks, lakes, and ponds ; most of these have, even at the 

 present day, an ample supply of fish, somewhat diminished as to num- 

 bers, but still excelling through its great variety of fine and valuable 

 sorts. Science and experience have in our time produced such a num- 

 ber of improvements in the fishing-trade — such as the different ways of 

 preserving fish, and the different uses to which the products of the 

 water are put — that by their aid it becomes possible to revive our fish- 

 eries, in spite of unfavorable influences to which they are exposed, and 

 without in the least injuring the more important interests of navigation, 

 industry, and agriculture. 



Tbe spirit of enterprise has also in Austria again turned toward this 

 branch of productive industry ; and it is a matter of great satisfaction 

 that not only many great landed proprietors, but also many small land- 

 owners, peasants, mechanics, and workingmen have founded establish- 

 ments for artificial fish-culture, and derive considerable profit from small 

 sheets of water either owned or rented by them. 



In some provinces, associations have been formed, having for their 

 object a system of rational fishing and fish-culture ; and there is no doubt 

 tbat such associations, adapted to the peculiar wants of the fisheries, 

 will, if supported by legislative measures, gain ground constantly. 



The above mentioned manifold evils, which have hastened the decline 

 of the fisheries, have also prevented any practical benefit being derived 

 from the numerous modem inrprovenients in fishing and the fish-trade. 



If one considers the enormous profit which other countries derive 

 from their lawfully protected fisheries, and then applies this staudard to 

 our extensive waters, it becomes absolutely certain that as soon as 

 a proper legislation has paved the way for the introduction of all the 



