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3. 



« Fisheries in Italy », being an introduction to the Official 

 Catalogne of the Italian section at the Great International 

 Fisheries Exhibition — London, 1883. 



I. Introduction. — Owing to the time and space conceded, 

 this must be considered merely as a very condensed essay on 

 the subject. Italy cannot be said to possess any of the grand 

 fisheries and extensive fish-cultural establishments of Northern 

 Europe; our seas are numerically richer in species, but far less 

 so when the number of individuals of important food-fishes comes 

 to be considered; and our fresh-water fish-fauna is certainly poor 

 in gamefish, while our rivers are relatively few and small. It 

 must, however, be borne in mind that the fisheries of few countries, 

 and of none in Europe, present such a variety as those of Italy. 

 A vast amount of information on the subject is contained in the 

 five big volumes « La l'esca in Italia », edited by Professor 

 A. Targioni Tozzetti, and published by Government (Ministry of 

 Agriculture, Industry and Commerce) between 1871-74. The 

 matter contained in this publication was principally collected by 

 local committees, in order to bring together the information ne- 

 cessary for the compilation of a uniform fishery legislation. The 

 first three volumes are dedicated to sea-fisheries, the two fol- 

 lowing to freshwater-fisheries; the arrangement of the contents, 

 owing to the special object in view and consequently to the 

 system followed in collecting the materials, is somewhat defec- 

 tive, and inevitable repetitions occur; yet the amount of most 

 valuable information en the former fishery legislation, local pri- 

 vileges and traditions: on the divers fisheries, nets, implements 

 and boats used; on the social condition, manners and customs 

 of fisherfolk on the different parts of the Italian sea-coasts, la- 



