( 342 ) 



SPAIN. 



(For Plan, see p. 346.) 



THERE do not exist in Spain any deep-sea fisheries, properly so called, involving the despatch 

 of large fleets at certain periods of the year, and to certain points either at sea or on the 

 coasts of savage or uninhabited lands, as it is known was the case when this country was 

 possessed, or shared with other nations, the dominion of the seas. Since those palmy 

 days, when, as in the reign of Philip II., two hundred vessels, with no less than 6000 

 sailors, left the Cantabrian shore for the cod fisheries of Newfoundland, these expeditions 

 have been constantly declining, and have ceased altogether. However, though in a different 

 way, and resting on ancient rights of dominion, deep-sea fishery is coming to life again in this 

 country, as is evidenced by the Canary Islands, on the West Coast of Africa. There a company 

 has been formed, called the "Canario Africana," which is working the principal shoals on 

 an extensive scale, and establishing factories on the island of Graciosa in that archipelago. 

 With this exception, and without taking into account our important 'colonial fisheries, of 

 which, owing to pressure of time in preparing this catalogue, it has not been possible to pro- 

 cure data, the fisheries as carried on in Spain are limited to what is technically known as 

 coast fishing. Nevertheless it should be observed that, on the ocean coasts, this description 

 of fishery, both in respect of the number and tonnage of the craft, and the distance they go 

 from the shore at certain points, is, in a way, as important as deep-sea fishing is in certain 

 other maritime countries. In the Gulf of Gascony there are steamers that go out about 

 fifty or sixty miles off the coast to compete with the French in working certain shoals, using 

 a fishing instrument called " bou " by the Spaniards and " chalut " by the French, both 

 showing but little wisdom in thus using this trawling apparatus, which will end by destroying 

 the fish which are usually to be found on the shores of this gulf in both countries. On the 

 Cantabrian coast sailing boats and row boats go out to the same distance, although it is 

 impossible to define the existence of shoals properly speaking, because, what with the 

 species of fish native to the shores, and the migratory fish, the whole coast may be said 

 to yield a large produce, but not to the same degree as the adjoining coast at the Punta la 

 Estaca, where, owing to the numerous rivulets and streams, and the large quantity of 

 vegetable and animal matter which they bring with them, attracting various species of fish, 

 the entire coast of Galicia may be described as one continuous shoal, of which these channels 

 are the spawning grounds and principal centres. At the mouth of the Mino ends the first 

 fishery division of the North and North West, which covers an extent of 1567 kilometres, 

 and at the mouth of the Guadiana begins the second zone or division, which terminates at the 

 Campo de Gibraltar, extending over 204 kilometres. This second zone, though smaller, is not 

 inferior in its yield of fish, as is proved by the fact that an important establishment (in the 

 island of Christina) has sprung up in a few years. There also rivers and streams, flowing 

 through fertile regions, provide abundant nourishment for the fish, which breed and migrate ; 

 and there likewise some steamers trawl with the tackle known as "bou" up to the African 

 coast, competing with the sailing craft in the shallow waters of this region, which is the 

 entrance to the Mediterranean. All the sea coast, between the Campo de Gibraltar and 

 the French coast, extending over 1,149 kilometres, forms the third zone, the poorest in 

 fish produce, although nature points to the contrary, as in every respect this sea possesses 

 greater advantages for the breeding of fish than the European or Atlantic Ocean. The explana- 

 tion of this enigma is already familiar to the more important nations which share these 

 waters ; it is undoubtedly the absurd manner in which these fisheries are worked, or rather 

 overworked ; and although this may not perhaps be the proper place to do so, we cannot 

 resist availing ourselves of the opportunity of pointing out to the various nations interested, 

 the expediency of convening a congress to discuss this matter, which it will soon be impossible 



