G78 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



almost masbed by tlie lieavy weiglit of tbe carps, and dead a few min- 

 utes after tbey bave left tbe water. Tbese are tbrown in large baskets 

 and are viewed witb eager and longing glances by tbe many poor peo[)Je 

 standing round, wbo bere, for a few cents, migbt procure more tliau one 

 good meal, and net Mr. Berger i:)erbaps $24 extra. But woe be unto 

 Mm if be sbould dare to sell tbese fisb ; tbe inexorable police-officers 

 would at once refer bim to a paragrapb of tbe fisbery law, according to 

 wbicb tbese fisb dare not be sold, as not baving tbe required size. 



Meanwbile tbe bour of noon comes, and tbe ardently longed-for luncb 

 time, doubly welcome on account of tbe pouring rain and tbe cold, is 

 fast approacbing, and Mr. Berger invites bis guests to bis bouse near by. 

 Among tbem we see, besides some landed proprietors from tbe neigb- 

 borbood, men of inexbaustible good bumor and unlimited capacity of 

 stomacb, tbe well linoAvn Lusatian anthropologist and reporter of tbe 

 Gartenlauhe, Dr. Veckenstadt. In tbe bospitable mansion we are 

 regaled with tbe products of tbe cbase, snipes, reed-birds, ducks, par- 

 tridges, «S:c., and one of tbe epicurians present makes tbe remark, 

 wbicb may be taken to beart by all good housewives, tbat tbe liesb of 

 the pike becomes infinitely more delicious if it has lain in brine for 

 twenty-four hours. The fishermen and drivers are meanwbile taking 

 their lunch in tbe sheds near tbe ponds, and after a short pause the 

 work begins anew untU late at night, when about 60,000 pounds of 

 carps have passed through the bands of tbe weighers. As regards the 

 further transportation of the carps, which are the property of Mr. Frit- 

 sche the moment tbey leave the scales, tbey first go to the Schwieloch 

 Lake, reaching it in five to fourteen days, going through the Hammer 

 Canals, the Spree, and tbe Spreewald. The difficulties of their route are 

 considerable, for the water is often so low that the boats have to be 

 placed on rollers and conveyed for short distances in this manner. 

 Arrived at the Schwieloch Lake, the fish are transferred to larger boats, 

 each holding about 10,000 pounds, and, placed in the care of reliable 

 persons, they go down the Spree to Berlin, which place they generally 

 reach after eight days, or they go still further to Hamburg, where they 

 get after a journey of four to five weeks, and other places. The total 

 annual rent of the domain is $12,870; the expenses for salaries, wages, 

 wagons, &c., amount to about $7,150; so that Mr. Berger must make at 

 least $20,000 just to meet his expenses. But it is said that he makes 

 a little more ! 



