76 LABOURS OF GEHIN AND EEMY. [CHAP. in. 



To return to Bemy, however, his experiments were so in- 

 stanteously crowned with success as even to be a surprise to 

 himself; and in order to encourage him and Gehin, a coadju- 

 tor he had chosen, the Emulation Society of the Vosges voted 

 them a considerable sum of money and a handsome bronze 

 medal. It was not, however, till 1849 that the proceedings of 

 the two attracted that degree of notice which their importance 

 demanded both in a scientific and economic sense. Dr. Haxo 

 of Epinal then communicated to the Academy of Sciences at 

 Paris an elaborate paper on the subject, which at once fixed 

 attention on the labours of the two fishermen in fact, it ex- 

 cited a sensation both in the Academy and among the people. 

 The government of the time at once gave attention to the 

 matter, and finding, upon inquiry, everything that was said 

 about the utility of the plan to be true, resolved to have it 

 extended to all the rivers in France, especially to those of the 

 poorer districts of the country. The artificial system of fish- 

 breeding was by this mode of action rapidly extended over the 

 chief rivers of France, and added much to the comfort of the 

 people, and in some cases little fortunes were realised by in- 

 telligent farmers who appreciated the system and had a pond or 

 stream on which they could conduct their experiments in safety. 



The piscicultural system has culminated in France, chiefly 

 under the direction of Professor Coste, in the erection of a great 

 establishment at Huningue, near Bale, for the collection and 

 distribution of fish-eggs. In order to see this place with my 

 own eyes, and so be enabled to describe exactly how the pisci- 

 cultural business of France is administered, I paid a visit to 

 the great laboratory along with some friends in the autumn of 

 1863, having gone by way of Paris in order to see that city in 

 its holiday trim during the fetes of the Emperor. The weather 

 was so hot, and pleasure-seeking so fatiguing, that my little 

 party made but a brief stay in the gay capital. It was a 

 pleasant relief indeed when we had obtained our tickets for 



