358 REPORT. OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [6J 



districts there is a marine commissioner, who h^s to 7^;*^ the^cbief 

 of the bureau referred to, and ^.hose duty it is to see to it that the fish- 

 eryTaws are properly enfirced. To these commissioners fishermen can 

 appeal in all matters pertaining to the fisheries. 



FRANCE.-In the Ministry of Marine there is a special bureau for the 

 salt water fisheries (the Bureau of Fisheries), which is under the com. 

 m slry-gen^ who has charge of recruiting the hospital service as 

 w 1 a of the pay and clothing of the navy. The functionaries in he 

 Itricts (prefV^cts of marine) and in ti,e -^'^^^-f^^^'^'j;;^^^ 

 the commissary-general, have also the fisheries in charge ^-^^^^ 

 where there are extensive fisheries there are special inspectors of li.l^ 

 Tries, of whom at present there are 18, who have to see to it that all 

 the fishery regulations are properly observed. Among the persons con 

 nected Nvi"th the administration of the fisheries we must im.Uide the 

 so-called superintendents of fisheries ipncd^hommes pecheurs) and swoni 

 guards (^«r^e.>m), whose number is determnied by the prefect of 

 each district. The former are appointed by the prefect at the reconi- 

 mendation of the chief of the recruiting district. They must have been 

 captains or owners of boats or vessels, and must possess some knowledge 

 of the fisheries. They have to watch over the proper observance of the 

 fishery laws, and assist in collecting statistical material. 1 here is no 

 salary connected with these places, but the time spent in these duties 

 is counted in awarding pensions as time of service on board a mau-ot- 

 war Every one whose name is on the naval register is entitled to a 

 pension at the age of fifty, after a service of twenty-five years, either on 

 board or on shore, either on a men.hant-vessel or a fishing-vessel in the 

 service of the Government. For five years' service in time of war an 

 extra pension is granted. The sworn guards are selected by the pre- 

 fect from a number of candidates proposed by the captains ot boats, 

 double the number of men to fill the vacant places always being pro- 

 posed. They must be twenty-five years of age, must have served as 

 captains of boats for at least twenty-four months, and have been on 

 board a man-of-war for two years. They are elected for the terra ot one 

 year, but can be re-elected. After ten years' service, and if tlnn-o is no 

 complaint against them, they are entitled to a medal, which is worn on 

 a blue ribbon. There is no salary connected with these places, except 

 in cases where they have had a loss of time, when they receive a certain 

 sum per day and traveling expenses. The time of service is, as regards 

 the pension, counted as military service in time of peace. They have 

 to watch over the proper observance of the fishery laws and call the 

 attention of the inspectors to anything that will i)romote the fisheries. 

 The freshwater fisheries are under the Ministry of Public Works. 



Italy.— There is no special administration of fisheries. The proper 

 carrying out of the provisions of the fishery laws is intrusted to the 

 ordinary authorities: to the navy, harbor-masters and inspectors, cus- 

 tom-house oflicers, forest guards, and, in fact, to any sworn officer un- 



