that lies between the Mediterranean and the lagoon
of Thau. This quarter with its wide streets and lofty stone buildings is
bounded on the east by the Canal de Cette, which leads from the lagoon
of Thau to the Old Basin and the outer harbour. Across the canal lie the
newer quarters, which chiefly occupy two islands separated from each
other by a wet dock and limited on the east by the Canal Maritime,
parallel to the Canal de Cette. A lateral canal unites the northern ends
of the two main canals. A breakwater running W.S.W. and E.N.E. protects
the entrance to the harbour, which is one of the safest in France. The
outer port and the Old Basin are enclosed by a mole to the south and by
a jetty to the east. Behind the outer port lies an inner and more recent
basin which communicates with the Canal Maritime. The entire area of the
harbour, including the canals, is 111 acres with a quayage length of
over 8000 yds. The public institutions of Cette include tribunals of
commerce and of maritime commerce, councils of arbitration in commercial
and fishing affairs, an exchange and chamber of commerce, a branch of
the Bank of France and a large hospital. There are also a communal
college, a naval school, and schools of music, commerce and industry,
and navigation. Cette is much resorted to for sea-bathing. The town is
connected with Lyons by the canal from the Rhone to Cette, and with
Bordeaux by the Canal du Midi, and is a junction of the Southern and
Paris-Lyon railways. The shipping trade is carried on with South
America, the chief ports of the Mediterranean, and especially with
Spain. The chief exports are wines and brandy, chemical products, skins
and soap; the chief imports are wine, cereals, coal, timber, petroleum,
sulphur, tar and chemical substances. In the five years 1901-1905 the
average annual value of imports was L3,720,000 (L4,980,000 in years
1896-1900), of exports L1,427,000 (L1,237,000 in 1896-1900). More than
400 small craft are employed in the sardine, tunny, cod and other
fisheries. Large quantities of shell-fish are obtained from the lagoon
of Thau. There are factories for the pickling of sardines, for the
manufacture of liqueurs and casks, and for the treatment of sulphur,
phosphates, and nitrate of soda. The Schneider Company of Creusot also
have metallurgical works at Cette, and the establishments for making
wine give employment to thousands. The port of Cette was created in 1666
by the agency of Colbert, mini