132 SPORT IN EUROPE 



with a legislative system perfected by different laws between 1 86 1 

 and 1886. The river fisheries of Belgium are regulated 



Fishery Laws j^y ^]^^ ,-^g^ }^^ Qf j-j^^. igj-h January, 188^. In Switzer- 



in other ^ , . . 



Countries ^^i^d the fishing is under the federal law of the 21st 



December, 1881, completed by that of the 3rd June, 



1890. Fishery legislation in Prussia was improved by the laws of 



1874 and 1880. So that, while our laws have been stationary since 



1829, England, Switzerland, Belgium, and Germany have continually 



improved theirs, increasing their output to such an extent that the 



surplus has reached our own country to the extent of 29,990,700 



kilogrammes^^ of fresh river fish in nine years ! 



It seems superfluous to trace the results of this importation into 

 France, a land watered by the most wonderful collection of rivers 

 and streams in the world. Not only should these splendid waters 

 supply fish enough for our requirements, but they should furnish fresh 

 fish at a price so low as to put it within reach of the poorer classes 

 now unable to enjoy it. 



The sum accruing to the State from the sale of fishing licences 

 amounts to 990,000 francs annually for 12,597 kilometres, or a yield 



of 78 f. 50 c. per kilometre. The result of these 



Value of . , .,.,.. .^ 



„. associations is thus simplv ridiculous 11 one compares 



Rivers. ^ ' ^ 



it with the value of rivers in other countries. The 

 river of Chateaudin (Finisterre) is a striking example of the 

 decadence into which the control of our waters has fallen. Like 

 almost all the rivers of Brittany, it was formerly so well stocked 

 with salmon, trout, and other fish that, as in Scotland and Wales, 



* I.e. upwards of 65,000,000 lbs. avoirdupois. 



