in.] 



RIGHTS OF FISHING. 



91 



1861-62. 



296 demands for establishments in 76 departments of France, and 39 demands 

 from other parts of Europe. 



So far as I could ascertain, the right of fishing in France is 

 claimed by the Government in all navigable rivers and canals, 

 but private persons can purchase the power to fish ; and the 

 rent payable by those using nets varies from 1 to 4 per 

 annum. In common streams that are not navigable, and in 

 lakes, the fishery belongs to the proprietors of the surrounding 

 land, and no person can fish in these without permission. As 

 to the larger river fisheries, they are so mapped out as to 

 prevent all possibility of dispute, no fisherman being permitted 

 to work his nets on a portion of water which does not belong- 

 to him. Fishing of some kind goes on all the year round. 



The following figures will indicate the money rental 

 and the value of the produce of the whole of the French 

 fisheries : 



4719 miles navigable rivers 



3105 miles of canals 



310 miles of estuaries of rivers 



23,025 



5,845 



46,140 



930 miles of rivers and canals belonging to individual 



proprietors 



114,889 miles of rivers and streams not navigable. 

 493,750 acres of lakes and ponds. 



2,700 



