178 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 



The importance of tliese grouuds will be be seen from tlie following 

 data : 



Approximate quantity of young Jisli plantad or which could he planted in Val Nova. 



Kind of fish. 



Chrysoplirys aurata 



Mugil auratus 



!MuKi) capito 



Mugil salieiis 



Actually 

 plaated. 



40, 000 

 120,000 

 170, 000 



:joo, 000 



Capacity. 



150, 000 

 200, 000 

 400, 000 

 400, 000 



Notwitlistanding the iusnfQcient quantity of fish planted, the products 

 in the years 1882, 1883, and 1881, respectively, were 22,214, 20,254, and 

 23,757 kilograms of fish of the following kinds : 



Anguille, AuyuiUa vidyaris, Fl. 

 Lal)raci, Lahrax lupus, Cuvier. 

 Muggine cefalo, Mugil cephalus, Cuvier. 

 Mnggine orifraugio, Mugil auratus, Cuvier. 

 Muggine calamita, Mugil capito, Cuvier. 

 Muggine musino, Mugil saliens, Cuvier. 

 Latterini, Gen. Atherina. 

 Orate, Chrysoplirys aurata, L. 

 Muggine chelonc, Mugil cliclo, Cuvier. 

 Gobio go, Gohius ophiocephahis, Pallas. 

 GrancLio di mare, Carcinus moenas, Leach. 



One G*in see from these examples how the fishing industry flourishes 

 in the estuary of Venice, and that it deserves to be aided by the Gov- 

 ernment. The marine fish-culture of these grounds, or so-called " val- 

 leys," is one of the most ancient and best-managed branches of industry, 

 and is far ahead of anything of the kind found in other countries. 



The neighboring piece of ground of about 3,700 acres, which, if an 

 embankment was constructed, would form a large new valley, has more 

 extensive and deeper natural canals than the former, 



I traversed these grounds in every direction, and found them well 

 adapted to the purpose for which they are intended, possessing, besides 

 the canals, swamps, ponds, and lakes, and along its circumference some 

 solid soil, which would render the construction of the embankment 

 easier and much less expensive. Tliis part of tlie lagoon is, in my 

 opinion, but pooi'lyadai)ted to form inclosed grounds, containing nothing 

 but reeds, owing to the low tides prevailing, es])ecially in the extensive 

 swamps found in these grounds; but, on the other hand, they are ex- 

 tremely well adapted to be transformed into inclosed fishing and hunting 

 gronmls.* I advised Messrs. Grego to use every possible means to reach 

 llieir oliject, because 1 feel certain that the i)roposed inclosure of these 

 grounds will i)rovc a very safe and remunerative speculation, as will be 

 seen from the following data. 



* The cultivators of thcKC " valleys" also take into account the products of the chase, 

 >vhich in houic valleys amount to 2,000 to 4,000 lire [$400 to fibOO] per auuuu;,. 



