518 EEPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



arranged at certain intervals, and deep and well-shaded holes serve as 

 a place of refage to large numbers of fish of every age. 



The results obtained by M. de Loes are very remarkable; and this 

 learned pisciculturist has not yet said his last word in the matter. 



From time to time piscicultural meetings are held in the canton, in 

 order to make known all the secrets of this new science, which is des- 

 tined to be of the greatest importance for Switzerland, We must con- 

 fess we would like to see this practice introduced in France. 



IsTumerous societies have been formed, especially at Fribourg, through 

 the exertion of M. de Boccard, and in the neighborhood of Aigle, of 

 which I will speak in another place. 



3.— Italy. ' 



The necessity for replenishing rivers has not yet been felt in Italy as 

 much as in other countries of Enrope. This country, on account of its 

 geographical position, offers exceptionally flue opportunities for fishing, 

 and the seas which surround it on nearly all sides supply all the wants 

 of its population. As in Switzerland, so there are also in Italy, many 

 lakes containing various kinds of excellent fresh water, but Switzerland 

 has no sea-fisliing, possessing only its lakes, which would soon be ex- 

 hausted if they were not constantly being replenished. 



The rivers and brooks of Italy are, with few exceptions, dry during a 

 great part of the year. Those water-courses which never dry up entirely 

 experience such a large increase of water at the time when the snow 

 melts, that it would be useless and even imprudent to found piscicultural 

 establishments. 



They do to-day what they have done for centuries. At Venice as at 

 Naples, nothing is changed. At Commachio the same plan is followed 

 as that which has been so well described by M. Coste. In the cities of 

 the Adriatic and the Mediterranean, Ancona, Beri, Brmdisi, Civita- 

 Vecchia, Leghorn, Genoa, &c., the resources of the sea are inexhaust- 

 ible. But it is none the less true that the persons who are at the head 

 of the administration fully understand the necessity of revising the fish- 

 ing laws, and a project for doing this will soon be laid before the Italian 

 Parliament. 



In Italy also the laws have become insufficient for protecting the fishi 

 eries; and waste, the use of hurtful fishing instruments, and the consel 

 quent destruction of fish, have made protective measures uecessaryi 

 There is only one step from this to understand the necessity of repleu^ 

 ishing those rivers which offer favorable conditions for so doing; anc 

 sooner or later the government will be obliged to interfere in the mat^ 

 ter. 



4. — AUSTEIA. 



Artificial pisciculture has only been introduced into Austria durin| 

 the last eight years. The imperial government has taken the initiator;; 

 steps by founding on its domains hatching-establishments from which 



