46 COMACCHIO. 



were dyked out from those of the Adriatic, and a series of canals 

 and pools were formed suitable for the requirements of the 

 peculiar fishery carried on at the place, all of which operations 

 were greatly facilitated by the Eeno and Volano mouths of the 

 Po forming the side boundaries of the great swamp ; and, as a 

 chief feature of the place, the marvellous fish labyrinth celebrated 

 by Tasso stiU exists. Without being technical, we may state 

 that the principal entrances to the various divisions of the 

 great pond — ^and it is divided into numerous stations — are from 

 the two rivers. A number of these entrances have been con- 

 structed in the natural embankments which dyke out the waters 

 of the lagoon. Bridges have also been built over all these 

 trenches by the munificence of various Popes, and very strong 

 flood-gates, worked by a crank and screw, are attached to each, 

 so as to regulate the migration of the fish and the entrance and 

 exit of the waters. A very minute account of all the varied 

 hydraulic apparatus of Comacchio would only weary the reader ; 

 but I may state generally, and I speak on the authority of M. 

 Coste, that these flood-gates place at the service of the fish- 

 cultivators about twenty currents, which allow the salt waters 

 of the lagoon to mingle with the fresh waters of the river. 

 Then, again, the waters of the Adriatic are admitted to the 

 lagoon by means of the Grand Pallota Oa,nal, which extends 

 from the Port of Magnavacca right through the great body of 

 the waters, with branches stretching to the chief fishing stations 

 which dot the surface of this inland sea, so that there are about 

 a hundred mouths always ready to vomit into the lagoon the 

 salt water of the Adriatic. The entire industry of this imique 

 place is founded on a knowledge of the natural history of the 

 particular fish which is so largely cultivated there — ^viz. the eel. 

 Being migratory, it is admirably adapted for cultivation, and 

 being also very prolific and of tolerably rapid growth, it can be 

 speedily turned into a source of profit. About the end of the 

 sixteenth century we know that the annual income derived 

 from eel-breeding in the lagoons was close upon £12,000 — a 

 very large sum of money at that period. 



The inhabitants of Comacchio seem to have a very correct 

 idea of the natural history of this rather mysterious fish. They 

 know exactly the time when the ammal breeds, which, as well 

 as the question how it breeds, has in Britain been long a 

 source of controversy. And these shrewd people know very 

 well when the fry may be expected to leave the sea and perform 



