Cette

Cette, an important seaport town of France, in the department of Hérault, is built on a neck of land between the lagoon of Thau and the Mediterranean, 23 miles SW. of Montpellier. The space enclosed by the piers and breakwater forming the harbour can accommodate about 400 vessels; and the harbour is defended by forts. A broad deep canal, lined with excellent quays, connects the port with the Lake of Thau, and so with the Canal du Midi and the Rhone, thus giving to Cette an extensive inland traffic; it has likewise an active foreign commerce. The principal trade is in wine, brandy, salt, dried fruits, fish, dyestuffs, perfumery, and verdigris. Cette has shipbuilding yards, salt-works, glass-works, factories for the manufacture of syrups and grape-sugar, &c. It is a resort for sea-bathing, and has extensive fisheries. Colbert founded it in 1666. Pop. (1872) 25,181; (1891) 36,179.