BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 419 



and anchovies. Scarcely any mussels or oysters were taken, but shell- 

 fish abound plentifully. The total capture exceeded 11,000,000 i)ounds. 



As a general rule, the coast of Algeria yields abundance of fish. 

 Fishing is particularly good in the Gulf of Oran and Arzew, but from 

 these points to Castiglione, a distance of over 1,200 miles, fishing is 

 little followed, for the lack of a market along the seacoast. 



Algiers and its neighborhood is a very important center for fish ; so 

 is the Bay of Callo and the town of Phillippeville. At Bone and La 

 Calle there is less animation, but sedentary species are here caught 

 ^v'hich are not found elsewhere. Coral-fishing is special to Algeria, 

 10,000 to 45,000 pounds of coral being the annual product. La Calle is 

 the central point of this industry, occupying yearly ICO boats and from 

 1,200 to 1,300 men. The coral yield of 1882 represented a value of 

 $190,000. 



Coral is obtained by means of a wooden apparatus in the shape of a 

 cross, having in its center a leaden slug or stone for ballast. Nets, the 

 meshes of which are loose, are hung on the bars of the cross and dragged 

 at the bottom of the sea and among the nooks and crevices of the 

 rocks. These nets, winding about the coraline plant, break up or off its 

 branches, which adhere to the meshes. The apparatus is drawn up by 

 the fisherman whenever he thinks it sufficiently laden. There is also a 

 net provided with large iron nails, having thus great force, to break 

 the coral, but this apparatus is prohibited. The scajihandre, or cork 

 jacket, is used only in exceptional cases. Algerian fisheries would no 

 doubt become more productive if greater facilities were afforded for 

 communication with the interior. 



I cannot close without again urging the importance of encouraging 

 our home fisheries. It is an industry of twofold importance. It is fol- 

 lowed by a class of brave and hardy men, from which, as in other 

 countries, may be recruited our best sailors. In the near future, when 

 our merchant marine will once more assume the importance it possessed 

 before the late war, this class may give us the force we shall then re- 

 quire, and American sailors sail American ships once more. 



United States Consulate, Lyons, October 24, 1883. 



S04 — I>I8€(JSSIOIV AT THC: DRESDEIV COIVFEKEIVCE IIV 1SS3, ©F THE 

 KIIVDS OF FI»)H EOOS TO BE OBTAIl\£D FROiTI THE U.MTEO 



STATES. 



In general the conference agreed that the experiments in acclimatiz- 

 ing American fish have been accompanied by many valuable results. 



Mr. Haack and Mr. Schuster did not strongly favor the California 

 salmon {Salnio quinnat), because experience had taught them that at 



* 



Die Fischereiconferenz in Dresden 18^3. E. EuifUhrung ausldndischer Fischarten. 

 From the Bayerische Fischerei-ZtUuug, vol. ix, No. 13, Munich, May 16, 1884. Trans- 

 lated from the German by Herman Jacobsox. 



