AND THE FISH THEREOF. 45 



This coast is not likely to prove an exception to the rule, and, although 

 the trade is yet in its infancy, it is no doubt capable of great development, if 

 the value of ice were fully understood and recognised. 



Ice becomes a necessary item in order successfully to carry on the trade ; 

 and as there is a superfluity of it in Carinthia and Carniola, to be procured for 

 the mere cost of transport, there would be no difficulty in introducing it as a 

 necessary element of the trade. 



One of the great drawbacks to development is also the State monopoly of 

 salt. The fishermen are, it is true, allowed a certain quantity of salt at 

 reduced prices, but not sufficient, and very often they fall short of their 

 supply. Thus, when large hauls of mackerel, pilchard, &c, are made, so that 

 they cannot be consumed in their fresh state, or the fishing craft are becalmed, 

 the fish has often to be thrown away from want of a sufficient quantity of 

 salt ; this ought to be remedied, and the fishermen allowed as much salt as 

 they please, returning what is not consumed. 



We are now brought to consider the position of the Italian fishermen on 

 these shores. 



They chiefly hail from Chioggia, in the province of Venice, a town com- 

 posed almost exclusively of fishermen, and which up to 1866 was under 

 Austrian dominion; they go by the name of Chioggiotti, and are expert 

 fishermen and mariners. Their boats, called bragozzi, and described else- 

 where, are constructed at Chioggia ; they are good sea-boats and above the 

 average size of the Austrian fishing-boats ; they are used exclusively for 

 trawling (cocchia) ; the sails are, as a rule, of a dusky brick colour, and orna- 

 mented with various designs more or less fantastic, in order the better to 

 recognise one another in the exercise of their vocation, especially at night- 

 time, as they always fish in pairs. 



These boats are to be seen all along the Austrian- Hungarian seaboard, 

 where they are engaged for months far away from their homes. Their 

 concourse in these waters dates from the most remote times, and they have 

 always been able to sustain a reputation of being hardy seamen, skilled 

 in their profession, sober and frugal in their habits, and daring, when 

 it became a question of risking their lives either in the pursuit of their 



