AND THE FISH THEREOF. 89 



common to the lagoons and at Zaole, found attached to wood, and the 

 mussels Pinna and Mytilus, and much liked on account of its savoury taste; 

 var. cristata (Auct. (?) Born. (?) ) (Ostrica commune crestatd), and var. falcata 

 (Chiereghin) {Ostrica commune falcata), both found in the lagoons, ponds, 

 harbours, on limestone and muddy beds. The former is the only kind which 

 occurs in the Ouarnero. 



The Common Mussel {Mytilus edulis), Motile of the French (Pedocchio, 

 "sea-louse"), 1 is found in large quantities on piles in the Trieste Harbour ; on 

 stones near Novegradi ; at Stagno, and between Grado and the mouths of the 

 Tagliamento, in a depth of 80 feet and about nine miles from the shore ; 

 also on the rocks on the coast of Istria. This is the most valuable species 

 after the oyster; 2 ' it is both well-flavoured and prolific, and well deserves to 

 be reared as in France, viz., by collecting the spawn in artificial ponds. 

 Mussels are caught by means of the cassa, or an iron hook. The annual 

 yield is about four millions, valued at ^"400. 



The next most important species are : Pectince (Capa santa and Cane- 

 strello), of which there are some ten different species, all more or less prized ; 

 Cardium cdule and rusticum (Capa tonda), the latter being the most important 

 of its genus, forming large banks in the mud of the lagoons ; Venus (Biberazzi, 

 Caparoni, Caparozzoli) ; Solen (Capa longd); Pinna (Stura); Ai'ca (Cofano, 

 Mussolo) ; Pectunculus (Pie d' asino) ; Mactra (Biberon) ; Spondylus gcederopus 

 G aider 0, Jar don); Modiola barbata (Pedocchio pelosd); Lithodomus lithophagus 

 (Dattolo di pietra, "stone-date"); P kolas dactylus (Dattolo di mar, " sea- 

 (date") ; Ltitraria compressa (Loca); Lima inflata (Sorbolo di mar), and other 

 species of more or less value, either from a culinary point of view or as bait. 

 Most of these are caught by the cassa or ostreghera, or by hand ; the cape 

 longhe by means of an iron rod with a conical knob at the end ; this is passed 

 between the shells which close upon it, and are thus drawn up. Solen 

 siliqua is also called Capa tabacchina, on account of its taste resembling 

 that of tobacco. The dattoli are especially prized in some places, but are 



1 So the Arabs call shrimps and prawns : Barghut el-bahr — sea-fleas. 

 3 See " Die Bewirthschaftung des Meeres," &c, von Anton Gareis. 



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