218 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 



jj. 1 IMI-I I l/l I ICC IX BELGIUM. 



By Hon. E. WIEEEQEET. 



[Extract from a speech on the subject of the fisheries delivered before the Belgian 



Chamber of Representatives.*] 



There is another point which relates to the fisheries, and which is too 

 important to be treated laterally, and, so to speak, in an incidental 

 manner — I mean the pollution of the water. This is a very serious thing, 

 and should be the object of the immediate attention of the Government 

 and of the Chamber. There take place incredible things, unworthy of 

 a civilized country. The drinkable waters which are used in the man- 

 ufacture of beer are continually corrupted by chemical and other sub- 

 stances without any of the authorities seeming to notice it. It is a 

 veritable poisoning, and, because it is only spoken of in connection with 

 fish, no attention is paid to a mischief which is in reality very great. 

 This emptying of poison into the water of our rivers certainly exerts 

 a most sad and cruel iufluence on the public health. Many maladies of 

 which the origin is not known have their source in this pollution which 

 is carelessly, shamelessly, and with impunity practiced in our country. 



Yesterday, in considering the subject of agriculture, an honorable 

 member spoke of the necessity of pointing out to our agriculturists new 

 fields upon which they may enter, in view of the revolution produced 

 by the introduction of cheap foreign cereals. It is undeniable at pres- 

 ent that the production of cereals should be abandoned in a great meas- 

 ure by our country people, and that there is urgency for them to find 

 another outlet for their activity. 



And in this connection let it be permitted to me to point out to the 

 farmers who have lands suitable for being submerged the very general 

 use in Germany of alternating ponds. It is perfectly possible to com- 

 bine with other rural labors the cultivation of a pond which, every sec- 

 ond or third year, can be restored to cultivation, after having served for 

 the multiplication and fattening of fish. This method is excellent for 

 the fields, as by its means the land is without expense furnished with 

 a most excellent manure. 



I pass to another field of activity for those who interest themselves 

 with fishery questions. I particularly desire to say something in respect 

 to the mixed fishery — that in the tide-water of our rivers. Heretofore 

 there has been no thought except regarding the fluvial fishery, properly 

 so called — that is to say, the fishery in our rivers and in the streams 

 tributary to our rivers. There is another fishery which occupies the 

 middle ground between the maritime fishery and the fluvial fishery, 

 that which is carried on in the lowest parts of our rivers, in the Escaut and 



'Journal of the Chamber of Representatives, April 27, 1683. Translated from the 

 French by Merwin P. Snell. 



