LACK OF FISH IN FRANCE. 227 



water fish are rare, and consequently so dear as to con- 

 tribute little to the food of the labouring classes. It is 

 nearly the same with sea-fish. M. Jourdier declares 

 that the maritime population deplores their disappear- 

 ance, and that the produce of the sea-fishings barely 

 suffices to supply the demands of Paris. " Where/' he 

 asks, " are those magnificent fish formerly so common ? 

 They have disappeared, or, when they occasionally 

 appear, are sold at exorbitant prices." In truth, the 

 position of Paris, in regard to the supply of food, is 

 every now and then alarming. Bread and butcher-meat 

 are distressingly dear, so that we are not surprised at 

 the attention of the Government being seriously turned 

 to pisciculture, and that great encouragement should be 

 given to the interesting and important researches of M. 

 Coste. At his suggestion the piscicultural establish- 

 ment at Huningue that vast laboratory intended for 

 the study and perfecting of the modes of artificial pro- 

 pagation has been incorporated into the Commission 

 for the Construction of Bridges and Highways. In 

 passing into the hands of this comprehensive and able 

 body, such an impulse has been imparted to it that 

 it has already become a powerful instrument for the 

 artificial propagation of the best kinds of fish ; and it is 

 making provision to commence on a grand scale the 

 restocking of the rivers of Europe. 



The fish to the introduction of which the greatest 

 importance is attached is the salmon of the Danube. 

 It deposits its eggs in May and June, in the tributaries 

 of that river ; its flesh is white and delicate, and it is 

 never sold in the market at Munich at a less price than 

 Is. 3d. per lb., although the supply is very abundant. 

 This noble fish attains three times the weight of the 

 salmon in the same length of time, and sometimes 

 weighs 240 lb. " The young Danube salmon we 

 reared two years ago at the establishment of Hun- 

 ingue, have now attained," states M. Coste, " the 

 weight of five lb., and those which were hatched this 



