n8 THE FISHERIES OF THE ADRIATIC, 



the Cogblo is generally enclosed in a second net of coarse string in order 

 to protect it against the friction with the bed and the depredations of the 

 dolphins, which are apt, at times, to injure the net. The length of the 

 wings, or arms, is sometimes as much as 30 fathoms each, the depth being 10 

 feet at the ends, and 20 feet towards the middle, where the bag commences. 

 The bag is small-meshed (1^-2 c), and well corked at the head, to keep it 

 well open whilst in motion. It is also extra weighted at the foot, so that it 

 falls quickly to the bottom, and is thus trawled along the ground, the boats 

 being under full sail, the faster the better, the Italian fishermen fishing in 

 almost all kinds of weather. Two pieces of wood are fastened longitudinally 

 to the under side of the bag to protect it from friction with the ground and to 

 enable it to slide along with greater facility. The value of the Cocchia is about 

 100 fl. This mode of fishing was prohibited by the Venetian Republic in 

 former times, and by the Austrian Government by the enactment of 1835 ; 

 but the want of organised inspection rendered it impossible to enforce the 

 prohibition, and it was once more recognised under the Austro-Hungarian 

 and Italian treaties of commerce of 1867 and 1878. 



As to the destruction of spawn, Professor G. O. Sars has proved that the 

 ova of the best-known and most valuable fish are found floating at the surface 

 during the whole period of their development. This is the case with cod 

 and haddock, and probably also with whiting, coal-fish, pollack, hake, and 

 tusk. The spawning of mackerel at the surface has been repeatedly seen, 

 and the ova identified. The common plaice has also the habit of spawning 

 near the surface, and its ova float during the whole of their development. 

 This being the typical representative of the flat-fish, it is probable that the 

 turbot, brill, and sole do not differ in this respect. Several other kinds have 

 been identified, such as the gar-fish, gurnard, &c. Hitherto the only fish 

 whose spawn has been found on the ground is the herring. It is, therefore, 

 a mistake to assume that trawling is more liable to destroy the spawn than 

 any other modes of fishing. 1 



The Cogblo is a hempen net made in the shape of a long conical bag, nar- 





1 See Holdsworth's "Sea Fisheries." 



