240 



Belgium. 



Our sea fishery, freed from all restrictions, has not been slow in developing. 



As stated in the first part of this report, the number of smacks has considerably 

 increased, and their construction has also improved. Our shipowners, in imitation of the 

 English, have adopted boats that for shape and rigging will bear comparison with any. 

 Built for rapid sailing, which is necessary for abundant harvests of fish, they are still 

 unsatisfactory, but that is the fault of the fishermen, who cannot handle them so dexterously 

 as their English neighbours. 



It is an incontestable fact that, although since 1830 prices have at least doubled, the 

 sale of sea fish has grown enormously. Fish always abounds in the market of Ostend, and 

 the supply increases every year. Since 1875 the municipality of Ostend has taken over tho 

 management of the fish market. The following is a table of the annual proceeds of the sale of 

 fish at this market since its acquisition by the corporation : 



The following is the produce for the two first months of 1883 : 



Belgian. English. French. Sundries (small fish) . 



January 271,193-05 44,259-50 58,312-50 11,607-00 



February 239,956-60 39,674-00 40,056-70 9,626-00 



Total 511,149-65 



83,933-50 



98,369-20 21,233-00 



This considerable development of national fishery does not appear to have suffered by 

 the importation of fish in vessels other than fishing vessels, nor by what is brought by rail. 

 And yet these importations have greatly increased, steamers arriving at Antwerp constantly, 

 half-laden with fish, from Hull and Grimsby. Besides this, a great deal comes by rail from 

 Holland. The following is a statement of the foreign trade during the last two years : 



