CHAP, ii.] FRENCH FISHERIES IN THE NORTH SEA. 59 



(line-fishery the capture of sprats, young herrings, and young 

 pilchards, for curing as sardines, yielding a considerable share 

 of wealth, as a large number of boats follow this branch of the 

 business all the year round. There are not less than 13,000 

 boats on the coast of Brittany devoted to the sardine trade, 

 and when it is considered that, according to Mitchell, a sum 

 of 80,000 is annually expended on cod and mackerel roe for 

 bait in this fishery, iny readers will see that the total value 

 of the French fisheries must be very considerable. Experi- 

 ments in artificial breeding are now being made both with the 

 white fish arid the crustaceans, and sanguine hopes are enter- 

 tained of having in a short time a plentiful supply of all kinds 

 of shell and white fish, and as regards those parts of the 

 French coast which are at present destitute of the power of 

 conveyance, the apparition of a few locomotives will no doubt 

 work wonders in instigating a hearty fishing enterprise. 



In fact the industry of the French as regards the fisheries 

 has become of late years quite wonderful, and there is evi- 

 dently more in their eager pursuit of sea wealth than all at 

 once meets the eye. No finer naval men need be wished for 

 any country than those that are to be found in the French 

 fishing luggers, and there can be no doubt but that they are 

 being trained with a view to the more perfect manning of the 

 French navy. At any rate the French people (? government) 

 have discovered the art of growing sailors, and doubtless they 

 will make the most of it, being able apparently to grow them 

 at a greatly cheaper rate than we can do. As regards the 

 French fisheries in the North Sea, I may mention that the 

 flotilla engaged in 1863, in that particular mine of industry, 

 consisted of 285 ships, measuring 22,000 tons, and manned 

 by nearly 4000 seamen the whole, both ships and men, 

 being an increase over those of the preceding year. This 

 fleet left the shores of France between the 20th of March 

 and the 12th of April, and shortly after these dates arrived at 



