Port.—The river banks in Paris are everywhere protected by broad embankments or quais, at the foot of which are series of landings for the river-steamers and ports for loading and un loading goods, such as that of Bercy for wines, those of La Rapee and the canal St. Martin for floated timber ; those of Macas and Ile Louvier were formerly used for wood-fuel, which is now largely dealt with along the canal St. Martin, those of St. Nicolas and of Orsay for building materials, those of Ormes and La Greve for fruit, that of La Gare for oil and so on; the utilization of these ports is changing in various respects. Paris has developed greatly as a port in the 20th century, and the basin of La Villette, in the north-east, connects by canals with the Seine in Paris (Canal St. Martin, passing under the boulevard Richard-Lenoir and the place de la Bastille), with the Ourcq (canal de l'Ourcq meeting that river 74 km. above Paris), and with the Seine at St. Denis, below Paris (canal St. Denis). These canals give effective water transport to and from north-west and north-east France, and the quantity of goods handled is very large. Development of industry has led to enlargement of the port by the building of basins at Bonneuil, Gennevilliers and Pantin. Another port is to be established at Bobigny, and others in the space set free by demolition of forti fications. The deepening of the Seine has also been planned.
Markets.—The slaughter-houses, cattle-yards, and, with few exceptions, the markets of Paris, belong to the municipality. The chief slaughter-house is the abattoir general of La Villette, in the extreme north-east of the city on the bank of the canal de l'Ourcq; adjoining it are the municipal cattle-yards and markets, connected with the Ceinture railway, so that the cattle-trucks are brought straight into the market. Cattle-traders and butchers pay dues for the use of these establishments. There are other less extensive slaughter-yards at Vaugirard. Most of the cattle come from Calvados, Maine-et-Loire, Vaucluse, Nievre, Loire Inferieure and Orne ; sheep from Seine-et-Marne, Aveyron, Aisne, Seine-et-Oise, Lot and Cantal ; pigs from Loire-Inferieure and other western departments; calves from Loiret, Eure-et-Loir and others of the northern departments. Dead meat, game, poultry, fruit, vegetables, fish and the other food supplies have their centre of wholesale distribution at the Halles Centrales, close to the Louvre, which comprise, besides a large uncovered space, a number of pavilions of iron and glass. Close to the Halles is the Bourse de Commerce, which is a centre for transactions in alcohol, wheat, rye and oats, flour, oil and sugar; and a market for flour, the trade in which is more important than that in wheat, is held in the place St. Germain l'Auxerrois, sales being effected chiefly by
the medium of samples. Most of the wines and spirits consumed in Paris pass through the entrepots of Bercy and the wine-market on the Quai St. Bernard, the first specially connected with the wine trade, the second with the brandy trade. In addition, there are other provision markets in various quarters of the city, owned and supervised by the municipality, as well as numerous flower markets, bird-markets, a market for horses, carriages, bicycles and dogs, etc. Two fairs are still held in Paris—the foire aux jambons in the boulevard Richard Lenoir during Holy Week, and the foire au pain d'epices in the place de la Nation and its vicinity at Easter time. Market and market-places are placed under the double supervision of the prefect of Seine and the prefect of police. (See section on Administration.) The former official has to do with the authorization, removal, suppression, and holding of the markets, the fixing and collecting of the dues, the choice of sites, the erection and maintenance of buildings, and the location of vehicles. The latter maintains order, keeps the roads clear, and watches against fraud. There is a municipal laboratory, where any purchaser can have the provisions he has bought an alysed, and can obtain precise information as to their quality. There is an "octroi" or duty charged upon goods entering Paris. The Chamber of Commerce occupies a building close to the Bourse.