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resembled on a smaller scale those at a Tonnara, biat the men 

 dived and seized under water the mullets imprisoned in the mug- 

 ginara, the scene being a most curious and exciting one; on that 

 occasion 1200 kilogrammes of fish were secured and considered 

 a poor result. — 2. Eel Fisheries. The common eel (Anguilla 

 vulgaris), with its many varieties and sub-species, is one of the 

 most common fishes in Italy; it is caught in the sea, in brackish 

 waters, and in fresh water, but more especially in lagoons and 

 estuaries, and affords one of the more important items of our 

 fisheries. It is now well known that the eel reproduces itself at 

 sea, the young fry entering rivers and lagoons in myriads, and 

 along the coast between Leghorn and Viareggio, in canals leading 

 from the sea into the Arno and adjacent lagoons. This gives 

 occasion to a most peculiar fishery, that of the Ceche, such being 

 given the name to these young vermiform and semi-transparent 

 eels. During the months of December, January, and February, 

 they swarm in countless numbers iu such localities, where, for 

 special local reasons, their capture is allowed during the period 

 designated. In the so-called lagune, campi or valli of Comacchio, 

 extensive salt and brackish water lagoons at the delta of the Po, 

 between the branches called Po di Volano and Po di Primaro, eel 

 fishery is an ancient and important industry. Only the adults 

 are caught, and principally at two periods, autumn and Lent. 

 To give an idea of the produce, I may state that the valli be- 

 longing to Comacchio alone give a mean annual produce of 

 825,000 kilogrammes of preserved eels, valued at 735,000 lire. 

 In 1871, 1,307,558 kilogrammes of eels were got. 



V. Freshwater Fisheries. — I have already stated the rea 

 sons why these are not of great importance in Italy; except in 

 the northern portion of our country, the rivers are insignificant 

 and the lakes of small extent; the freshwater fish fauna is besides 

 not rich in species of economic value, such as elsewhere in Eu- 

 rope form the object of an important piscatorial industry, as 

 salmon and sturgeon are entirely wanting or not abundant. As 

 I have before mentioned, for obvious reasons, special regulations, 

 distinct from those relating to sea fisheries, regulate those in 

 rivers and lakes. The fishermen on fresh waters are far less 



