AND THE FISH THEREOF. 97 



in fact, everything is left to chance, as the fishermen have little or no idea of 

 the state of the ground they are working over ; and it is, therefore, hardly 

 surprising that the fisheries do not assume more importance. 1 



RED CORAL. 



Red Coral (Corallium rubrum), Corallo rosso, is found on the Dalmatian 

 coast from Budua as far as the island of Grossa, to the west of Zara ; thence, 

 in a lesser degree, to the islands of Unie and Cherso, in the Gulf of 

 Ouarnero, on rocky beds, in depths of 10 to 150 fathoms. 1 



The season of fishing lasts from May to September, and is carried on only 

 in calm weather. The fishing gear is described elsewhere (see Nets). 



The proceeds of the fisheries are variously estimated at 6,000 florins and 

 14,000 florins : exports to Genoa for about 10,000 florins, where it is valued on 

 account of its consistence and pale red colour. Up to 1868 the coral fisheries 

 were crown property, and were farmed out for about 1,000 florins ; since 

 1868 they are free, but only to Austrian subjects. They are exclusively 

 carried on by the inhabitants of the island of Zlarin, near Sebenico, by means 

 of eight boats, each manned with a crew of five men ; each boat requires in the 

 course of the season 3 to 6 cwt. of hemp, and, in order to supply this and the 

 necessary stores of provisions, each boat requires about 500 florins to fit out ; 

 in order to provide this, the fishermen are generally forced to sell the produce 

 of their labour beforehand, at prices ranging from 6 to 9 florins per pound. 3 

 The yield of each boat varies from 80 to 100 lb. in the course of the season, 

 say from 600 to 800 florins in value, which is very small in comparison to 

 that in the Mediterranean. 3 The fisheries are on the decrease ; only three 

 boats were engaged in the fisheries in 1881, and the total catch was under 

 1 50 kilogrammes. 



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



2 The price of coral in the market varies from 40 frs. to 70 frs. per kilo, and choice thick 

 and pale red coral (peatt d'ange) is worth 400 to 500 frs., and even more. 



3 The average yield of a boat on the coast of Algiers is 200 kilos. 



o 



