102 THE FISHERIES OF THE ADRIATIC, 



which the wind acts as on a sail ; above are two turtle-doves, the messengers 

 of peace and the emblems of constancy, with extended wings, each supporting 

 a wind-rose ; above each turtle-dove are real palm-branches, which are fixed 

 there on Palm Sunday and renewed each year, emblematic of success ; at the 

 top is the Italian flag, held by a mariner, bearing on one side the initials of 

 the name of the boat, and on the other side the initials of the name of the 

 owner ; the flag-staff is crowned by the cross, and the whole device is 

 ornamented by a number of small banners, placed there as records, and 

 probably in consequence of vows made at the time of escapes from danger. 

 The whole device is extremely elegant, and is a novel and tasteful 

 decoration wherever it may be seen ; it gives a fair idea of the simplicity of 

 thought, the piety and at once the ingenuity of these laborious, nerved, and 

 frugal seamen, in their dangerous calling. The whole is balanced to a nicety, 

 and moves easily when fanned by the slightest breeze. The foremast carries 

 a similar, though smaller and less elaborate, device ; the design varies in 

 shape and details amongst the different craft, but the emblems are more or 

 less common to all. They are so coloured, that they appear as of bright 

 metal when the sun shines on them. 



The Tartane are somewhat out of use, their number having decreased to 

 about fifty. They likewise hail from Chioggia, but they originate from the 

 south, and are very much more common in Sicilian waters and in the Gulf of 

 Naples : the Spaniards have very large ones, exceeding ioo tons. They 

 work the trawl singly (not in couples, as is the case with the Bragozzi), and 

 the drag-ropes (alzane) are attached to two long spars (spuntieri, or sponteri), 

 extending fore and aft, the vessel drifting broadside on. The trawling-net is 

 also known by the same name of Tartana. This craft varies from 60-100 feet 

 in length, is decked throughout, with circular bows and poop, and more beam 

 than the Bragozzo ; it is of 10-15 tons burden, and is worked by a crew of 

 eight men. It has not so much spring aforehead as the Trabaccolo, and the 

 helm does not extend beyond the after-steven. The rig consists of one mast 

 raking a little forward, a very large lateen sail, a driver and jib like the 

 Brazzera ; it is seldom met with on the eastern coast (see Plate VI.). 



The Tartanella is a decked shore-boat used in Dalmatia, particularly 



