7 S THE FISHERIES OF THE ADRIATIC, 



sentatives of this genus in these waters, whereas the Bonito and the Germon, 

 although occasionally met with, can hardly be taken into consideration ; they 

 are both Atlantic species, which seldom enter the Mediterranean, and the 

 latter frequents the high seas, rarely approaching the shores. The common 

 tunny attains to great size and weight: specimens are mentioned of 10 feet 

 in length, and i,ooolb. in weight, and those of 5 to 6 feet are by no 

 means uncommon in these waters. T. thunnina is smaller in size, but 

 equally good eating : the Pelamid (Pelamis sardct) is common on the Dal- 

 matian coast, but is inferior to both the tunny and the mackerel as food. 



The tunny fisheries of the Adriatic are much behind those of the 

 Mediterranean in their development, and the preserving of the fish is not 

 understood here as it is, for instance, at Genoa, Marseilles, and other places. 

 In the Quarnero, however, large hauls are sometimes made ; thus, in 1872, 

 40 tons were taken at one spot in the course of three days. The surplus 

 of the Quarnero fisheries is exported in a fresh state to Trieste and Venice. 

 The average annual value of the tunny fisheries is ,£15,000. 



The Remora must be mentioned here, but it has no value. 



The Star-gazers, thus called on account of the position of the eyes being 

 on the upper surface of the head, are common shore-fishes, which frequent 

 the beds in small depths amongst the stones and belong to the second class 

 of fishes. They class under the family of Weevers (Tracliinidcr), which 

 comprises also four species of Trachimis, three of which are common and 

 esteemed as food. T. araneus, the best of its kind, attains to as much as 

 4 lb. in weight, the other species being much smaller. 



This genus has the same properties as the scorpions to inflict most painful 

 wounds with its dorsal and opercular spines, which create intense inflamma- 

 tion and fever ; and, indeed, amputation of the wounded limb has had, it is 

 said, to be resorted to in some cases. The sting of the lesser Weever 

 (T. vipera), also called the Sting-fish, or Adder-pike, is the most redoubted; 

 hence its name. According to Dr. Glinther, " no special poison-organ has 

 been found in these fishes, but there is no doubt that the mucous secretion 

 in the vicinity of the spines has poisonous properties. The dorsal spines, 

 as well as the opercular spine, have a deep double groove, in which the 



