296 demands for establishments in 76 departments of France, and 39 demands from other parts of Europe.
So far as I could ascertain, the right of fishing in France is claimed by the Government in all navigable rivers and canals, but private persons can purchase the power to fish; and the rent payable by those using nets varies from £1 to £4 per annum. In common streams that are not navigable, and in lakes, the fishery belongs to the proprietors of the surrounding land, and no person can fish in these without permission. As to the larger river fisheries, they are so mapped out as to prevent all possibility of dispute, no fisherman being permitted to work his nets on a portion of water which does not belong to him. Fishing of some kind goes on all the year round.
The following figures will indicate the money rental and the value of the produce of the whole of the French fisheries:—
| 4719 miles navigable rivers | £23,025 |
| 3105 miles of canals | 5,845 |
| 310 miles of estuaries of rivers | 46,140 |
| 930 miles of rivers and canals belonging to individual proprietors | 2,700 |
| 114,889 miles of rivers and streams not navigable. | |
| 493,750 acres of lakes and ponds. |
The money value of the fish caught in these waters may be stated as follows:—
| From State Returns for rivers and canals | £28,880 |
| The estuaries yield £46,140, of which the fresh waters supply one-half, giving | 23,080 |
| Rivers and canals belonging to private individuals | 2,680 |
| 114,889 miles of watercourses | 148,000 |
| 493,750 acres of lakes and ponds | 400,000 |
| Total | £602,640 |
If the profits of the cultivators and expenses of the fishery be added to the produce, we have—
| Canals and watercourses | £400,000 |
| Lakes and ponds | 400,000 |
| Total production of profits and produce | £800,000 |
