LX-EUROPEAN AUTHORITIES 01 THE SUBJECT OF 

 REGULATING THE FISHERIES BY LAW. 



ON THE FISHERIES OF THE GULF OF NAPLES. 



BY ACHILLE COSTA.* 



CONSIDERATIONS ON THE SYSTEMS OF FISHING. 



Among the inhabitants of the sea the spinous-rayed fishes (to which 

 almost all the best kinds of eatable fishes belong) are without doubt 

 immensely prolific, more so than animals of any other class, and this 

 fact is in harmony with a general law observed throughout nature, 

 namely, that fruitfulness is in direct ratio to the means of destruction 

 that animals meet with in nature, which destruction fishes find in 

 the sea and within the sphere of their own class; the carnivorous 

 devouring not the vegetable-feeders alone, but also those of their 

 own kind which are smaller than themselves. If to these natural 

 causes of destruction we add the artificial modes invented by man 

 for his own use, we can readily appreciate the nature of the drain to 

 which the families of fishes are subjected, and the necessity of an 

 enormous fertility to maintain 1he supply at a given average. 



Indeed, in spite of such fecundity, it has been observed in numerous 

 localities that marine productions are on the decrease. In regard to 

 the Gulf of Naples, no exact statistics are on record by which ro deter- 

 mine tho precise amount of this decrease; but, taking into considera- 

 tion the local conditions of the sea, it is easy to prove that the product 

 of fishing is very inferior to what it should be. This fact is accouuted 

 for by the avidity of fishermen, who, valuing present utility only, 

 make no account of the injury done to the future, and who, thus 

 ignoring their own interest, instead of being the jealous preservers 

 of the source from which they derive their constant industry, are 

 its destroyers, and invent new means of destruction instead of pres- 

 ervation. As this is a subject which regards the public welfare, 

 owing to the loss arising therefrom to consumers, the attention of the 

 governments of different nations has been called to it, in order that 

 every precaution may be taken to protect this highly-important branch 

 of industry by every means dictated by science and experience. A 

 royal council, to which we have the honor of belonging, is already en- 

 gaged in investigating all that relates to the subject in question in our 

 country, and a law on fishing throughout Italy is in course of prepara- 

 tion. We do not deem it necessary here to expound in advance all the 

 special views which we consider a subject of discussion for the council 



* Atti del reale istituto d'incorraggiaiuento alle scienze naturali econoiniclie e tec- 

 nologiche di Napoli. 2do serie. Touio VII. 1870. P. 89. 



