526 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [10] | 
salt marshes, 150 francs; whilst fish-ponds, when properly cultivated, 
will yield as much as 300 frances per month. 
It must be borne in mind that this result is obtained in a perfectly 
natural manner, without using any artificial food. The fish are actually 
left to themselves in the ponds, where the ruppia, which grows spon- 
taneously, is sufficient for their nourishment. 
The construction and cultivation of fish-ponds cannot, therefore, be 
too highly recommended. Our population is constantly increasing, and 
its luxuries and actual needs increase still more rapidly. All classes of 
society eagerly seek enjoyment of every kind, and the scarcity (every 
day greater) of delicate meats, such as fish, threatens at no distant future 
- to make many articles of food almost unattainable, food which is eagerly 
sought by all classes, absolutely necessary for weak and sick people, 
that it becomes a matter of great importance to place it within the reach 
of those (especially the last mentioned) who are not favored with a super- 
abundance of this world’s goods. 
Two objections, however, have been raised against the fish-ponds. It 
has been said that they are a cause of insalubrity because their waters 
are often stagnant; and, secondly, the objection has been raised that 
they create a competition which endangers the privileged fisheries of 
the enrolled mariners. 
Insalubrity.—The first of these objections shows an entire ignorance 
of the manner in which fish-ponds are managed, for their water is re- 
newed twenty-four times per month; for example, during the three days 
which precede and the three days which succeed the new and the full 
moon, during the double day and night tide. Can water be called stag- 
nant when it is renewed twenty-four times per month? 
It has also been said that the mingling of fresh and salt water is pro- 
ductive of insalubrity, whilst this mingling is certainly recognized as 
favorable to the development of fish, improving the flavor and quality 
of their flesh. 
Without entering into a scientific discussion of this assertion, we will 
confine ourselves, by way of refutal, to presenting the sanitary statistics 
of the country—statistics taken among those classes of people which 
are most exposed to the alleged fever-breeding miasmas of the fish- 
ponds; I mean the salters, lock-keepers, and the customs officers, the 
last mentioned being often compelled by their duties to pass their nights 
near the marshes. It must be granted that the salters are the most ro- 
bust people in that part of the country; and as far as the customs offi- 
cers are concerned, we point to the report of the inspector of customs, 
which says that of all the customs officers scattered along the coast of 
the basin, those of the district of Aude had the smallest number of sick, 
even less than the healthy district of Arcachon. 
- The fact that the mingling of fresh and salt waters, when the latter 
are not stagnant, is perfectly harmless, has been fully corroborated by 
Mr. Coste’s observations in the lagoons of Comacchio. This famous 
