A FISHING-PLACE OF COMACCHIO. 



47 



their montee. They can measure the numbers, or rather estimate 

 the quantity, of young fish as they ascend to the lagoon, and 

 consequently are in a position to know what the produce will 

 eventually be, as also the amount of food necessary to be pro- 

 vided, for the fiah-farmers of Oomacchio do not expect their 



A DIVISION OF COMACCHIO. 



A. Canal Palotta. 



B. Entrance from the canal. 



C. Canal for the passage of boats. 



C. Sluices forjclosing canal. 



D. First compartment of the labyrinth. 



E. Outer basin. 



F. Antechamber of the first compart- 



ment. 



G. Chamber of the first compartment. 



H. Second compartment. 



I. Chamber of second compartment. 



K. Third compartment. 



LLL. Chambers of third compartment. 



M. Wickerwork baskets for keeping fish 



alive. 

 N. Boat with instruments of fishing. 

 O. Dwelling-house. 

 P. Storehouse. 



animals to fatten upon nothing. However, they go about this 

 in a very economic way, for the same water that grows the fish 

 also grows the food on which they are fed. This is chiefly the 

 aquadelle, a tiny little fish which is contained in the lakes in 

 great numbers, and which, in its turn, finds food in the insect 

 and vegetable world of the lagoons. Other fish are bred as well 

 as the eel — riz. muUet, plaice, etc. On the 2d day of February 

 the year of Oomacchio may be said to begin, for at that time 

 the montee commences, when may be seen ascending up the Eeno 

 and Volano mouths of the Po from the Adriatic a great series 

 of wisps, apparently composed of threads, but in reality young 



