266^ FISH CULTtTKEt 



ancient industry. The singular lagune at Commachio, 

 on the Adriatic, is a peculiar instance of what art 

 can do to assist nature in this respect. Originally, 

 the spot was a marsh, intersected by rivulets ; at 

 the outlet of these rivulets small islands, half suh-' 

 merged, lay close upon the coast. Thfese rivulets were 

 collected into a canal; the shallow pools made into 

 one large lagune ; . the islands connected and raised 

 by means of wickerwork, &c. which made a laby- 

 rinth, at every outlet of which certain traps were set. 

 The waters of the canal were turned into this lagune. 

 The fish from the sea enter through the traps into the 

 brackish water to spawn, but cannot return ; and vast 

 quantities of eels, mullets, and other fish are thus 

 captured, a large stock always being kept up in the 

 lagune. 



The Lucrine Lake is another specimen ot what can 

 be done with oysters ; but the salt lake of Fusaro, 

 which I have previously referred to, is a more singular 

 instance still. This lake, which is situated between 

 the Lucrine Lake, the ruins of Cumse, and the Point 

 of Missene, was originally an extinct volcano, and at 

 times, even now, the sulphureous exhalations penetrate 

 the waters. About forty years ago, the entire stock 

 of oysters in the lake was killed from this cause, and 

 the lake had to be restocked, It is about a league 



