AND THE FISH THEREOF. 49 



must be said that the fisheries are guided entirely by municipal regulations, 

 and, to a great extent, by custom and usage. 



The necessity of passing a special and general law is, however, generally 

 acknowledged, and, may be, it is being worked out at the present moment. 

 In this the Italians have gained a march on the Austrians ; their law 

 regulating the fisheries was passed on March 4, 1877, and came into force 

 December 31, 1879. They do not, however, definitely deal with the private 

 fisheries, but merely regulate their exercise. 



It has thus been shown how the Chioggiotti have been able to maintain 

 their position in these waters, notwithstanding the opposition they often meet 

 with, caused by the enmity and jealousy of the local fishermen. 



In I stria, their share of the fishing exceeds that of the native fishermen, 

 and they still retain an important share of the Dalmatian fisheries. 



The produce of the trawls is chiefly composed of the ordinary class of fish 

 {pcscc populii), in contradistinction to the " prime " (pcscc find). This, as it 

 constitutes almost exclusively the animal food of the poorer inhabitants of the 

 greater part of the coast, is always of ready sale at low prices ; and as the 

 indolence of the inhabitants, and their non-use of the trawl, preclude them 

 from competing with the Italians in the sufficient supply of this important 

 article of consumption, the consequence is that their presence is, as a rule, 

 welcomed by all classes, and often sought by the Communes. In their absence 

 fish becomes a luxury, and is only within reach of the purses of the richer 

 classes. 



In some places, and particularly in the south of Dalmatia, at Ragusa, and in 

 the Bocche di Cattaro, also at Barcola, near Grado, opposite Trieste, they meet 

 with so much opposition from the local fishermen, that they have had to give 

 up exercising their profession there in favour of more genial and hospitable 

 waters. But in such cases the consuming population are the sufferers, the 

 local fishermen drive a grinding monopoly, and in some places only go out 

 fishing on the eve of fast-days, when they are sure of selling their small catch 

 at exorbitant prices to the over-confiding public, that can ill afford to pay for 

 it, but are obliged to do so from religious motives. 



There are also many kinds of "prime" fish, the supply of which is entirely 



n 



