— 26: - 



is believed, yet been attempted in Italy, where it might easily 

 succeed. In Central and Southern Italy a fresh-water crab (Tel- 

 phusa fluv'dHUs) is pretty common and sought for; near Flo- 

 rence they are kept for some time in the dark, isolated in 

 earthen jars, so that they shed their carapace, and becoming soft 

 are more easily eaten. — d. Vermes The common leech (Hirudo 

 medicinalis, found in most parts of Italy, was in past years, 

 when more extensively used for medicinal purposes, eagerly 

 sought for; between 1828 and 1851, the authorities of Sardinia, 

 Rome, and Parma, issued special edicts for its protection. No 

 later documents whit that object have been noted, but in the 

 neighbourhood of Turin leeches are specially reared for medi- 

 cinal use. 



VI. Pisciculture. — This important branch of industry is 

 as yet in an incipient condition in Italy, whereas it has of late 

 years made such rapid strides in other countries; and yet in 

 this, as in many other things, we may and can look further back 

 than most nations, and recall the time when our forefathers, the 

 Romans, had such tender cares for their piscintr, vivaria mil- 

 raénorum an cetaria, and reared oysters in Lake Lucrinum (1), 

 carrying them thither from the far shores of Brundusium and 

 Tarentum (2). Of 'ate, however, some progress has been made, 

 and the future promises well. — 1. Fish-culture in Lagoons. 

 This is a very peculiar kind of industry, the first step towards 

 true artificial fish-culture; it is most extensively practised in the 

 salt and brackish-water lagoons which occupy so large a surface 

 between the mouths of the rivers Reno and Isonzo, on the Adriatic 

 coasts, and goes by the generic term of vallicoltura. It origi- 

 nated in the peculiar nature of that extensive region, and dates 

 back far into the earlier part of the mediaeval times, for in the 

 archives of Venice documents exist relating to lagoon fishery of 

 Chioggia dated 888. In the years 1118 and 1181 p isciriae aquae 

 are mentioned, and in 1425 documents relating to clausura val- 



li) Muriae Baiaro melior Liicrina peloris. — (Horace, Sat. 5, iv.~) 

 and 



(2) Pectinibus patulis jactat se molle Tarentum. — (ibid.) 

 will at once occur to our schoolboys. — [Ed. | 



