THE FRENCH SARDINE INDUSTRY. 
THE SARDINE FISHERY. 
The sardine fishery of France dates back many years, and even in the early part 
of the eighteenth century it was an important industry, but it has become much 
more extensive since the introduction of canning. The building of railroads has also 
benefited the fishery by providing means of shipping to inland points that part of the 
catch which can not be disposed of locally. In all of the centers of the west coast 
essentially the same methods of fishing are followed, with slight local variations. The 
methods have an important bearing on the quality of the canned sardines, and will 
therefore be noticed with some detail. 
The province of Brittany supports by far the most extensive fisheries and is the 
center of the canning industry. Here in 1898 were 21,684 sardine fishermen, with 
4,611 boats, valued at 3,759,403 francs, and apparatus worth 3,307,643 francs; and 
here were caught 49,478,365 kilograms of sardines, selling at 7,572,347 francs. The 
leading center in 1898 was Douarnenez, which was credited with 4,200 fishermen, 710 
boats, and over 18,000,000 kilograms of sardines, valued at 2,442,000 francs. Next- 
in importance was Concarneau, with 2,695 fishermen, 490 boats, and 9,163,000 
kilograms of sardines, worth 1,719,890 francs. Other important places in Brittany 
are Audierne, Quimper, Port Louis, Etel, Quiberon, La Turballe, and Le Croisic. 
Outside of Brittany the fishery is most extensive at Sables-d’Ol on ne, St. Gilles-sur- 
Vie, and Arcachon. 
On the Mediterranean coast of France sardines are caught at numerous places 
and by many fishermen, but only in relatively small quantities. The fisheries here 
in 1898 gave employment to 7,794 men, using 2,861 boats, valued at 1,607,930 francs, 
and nets valued at 3,386,742 francs; the catch was 2,129,519 kilograms of sardines, 
valued at 987,738 francs. 
BOATS. 
All of the boats engaged in the sardine fishery are registered, and have their 
numbers in large white figures on both sides of the bow, preceded by a letter or 
letters indicating the town to which they belong (thus, CC for Concarneau). Each 
boat is taxed about 4 francs yearly by the department of marine and 2 francs by the 
department of customs. Formerly the boats were smaller, flatter, slower, and less 
seaworthy. The larger boats, such as are used at Sables-d’Olonne, require rowboats 
for operating the nets. 
Boats are built locally, and cost 1,200 francs when of oak and 1,000 francs when of 
Norway pine. They do not vary much in size in the different sections. In Concar- 
neau and other parts of Finistei’e the average dimensions are as follows: Length of 
keel, 25 feet; length over all, 35 feet; beam, 9 or 10 feet; depth amidships, 6 feet; 
depth aft, 10 feet; length of foremast, 33 feet; length of mainmast, 36 or 37 feet. 
The stern is pointed, the prow is sharp and straight, and the sides flare consider- 
ably, so that there is great carrying capacity. There is a broad floor about 2 feet below 
the rail, and on this platform most of the work is done and most of the fish carried; 
but when there is a large catch, some of the fish are put below to avoid crushing. 
There are two long masts, the foremast raking aft, while the mainmast is nearly 
vertical. The masts may be lowered if desired. The raising and lowering of the 
foremast are facilitated by a rope running from its base through a pulley at the head 
of the mainmast. Each mast carries a large, square, lugger sail, and sometimes a 
