AND THE FISH THEREOF. in 



sea fishing. The latter is known at Rovigno as Passarclla da pelago. The 

 former is used only in shallow waters and is less substantial in make than the 

 other kinds : the drag-ropes are of bulrushes, the twine is slender, and the 

 net is not heavily weighted. 



The Sfogliante, or Rctc di Sfoglie, is a ground-net for soles (Sfoglie). 

 Length, 20 m. ; depth, \\ m. ; price, 15 fl. 



The Rctc di Barboni, Barbonera (or Tarantella in the Ouarnero), is a 

 ground-net for red mullet {Barboni), small scorpions, &c. Length, 20-35 m - 5 

 depth, 2 m. ; price, 20 fl. Mesh, inner net, 2\ c. ; outer net, 26 c. 



The Rctc di Gnatti di sasso is a ground-net for gobies (Guatti). Length, 

 10 m. ; depth, 1-2 m. ; price, 8-10 fl. Mesh, inner net, 2\ c. ; outer net, 22 c. 



3. Set, or Circle-nets (Reti a fermo or da chiusd). 



These are fixed nets, used for the capture of tunny, made of thick cord, 

 with floats but without leads, and sometimes as much as 250 fathoms long 

 and 15 fathoms deep (see Plate X.). 



The Tonnare (Madrague of France), or Poste di Ton, are found all along 

 the coast, but mostly on the Croatian seaboard, and they are much on the 

 increase in Dalmatia. The distribution of the net is, as a rule, semicircular, 

 one end being anchored close in shore ; the net is then drawn out seawards, 

 the outer part being parallel with the land, thus forming an enclosure, with one 

 side left open for the passage of the fish. The locality is chosen according 

 to the formation of the shore and bed, the chief condition being deep water, 

 especially at the entrance. This favours the passage of the tunny, which 

 is in the habit of approaching the shore in shoals, either in pursuit of 

 mackerel, or, as is generally believed to be the case, to scratch itself against 

 the rocks in order to rid itself of a parasite which irritates it. Thus, a deep 

 creek, or bay, is favourable for fixing the net, particularly where the channel 

 forming the opening is narrow and deep : in this case a net is simply drawn 

 across, leaving the channel free. 



Special regard has to be paid, in fixing the locality of these nets, to the 

 course frequented by this eminently migratory genus in its annual passage 

 from the Atlantic to the Black Sea and Sea of Azov, a distance of 2,800 



