AXD THE FISH THEREOF. 113 



that of Buccarica costs 1,900 florins. The fishermen employed vary from 

 eight men (Preluca) to thirty-four (Buccarica). 



The Palandara da posta is a net fixed at right-angles to the shore, in 

 which the fish are caught on whichever side they strike the net. It is used 

 for bonito (Croat. Palandd). Length, 100 m. ; depth, 20 m.; mesh, 1 1 c. ; 

 price, 150 fl. (see Plate XIV.). 



4. Seine, Draw, or Circle Nets (Tratte). 



This is the most common, as it is the most antiquated mode of fishing. 

 The Phoenicians are known to have used the net; and it remains to this 

 day the mode of fishing most generally adopted by the fishermen of these 

 shores. It corresponds to the English seine fishing, and its special character 

 — subject to variations according to the object for which it is used —is to 

 enclose or surround the fish, which are drawn ashore and thus captured. It 

 consists of a long piece of netting, varying in its dimensions according to 

 circumstances, sometimes as much as 300 fathoms long, and 25 fathoms deep 

 in the centre ; but the middle, or " bunt," as it is called in England, is 

 always deeper than the "wings" or "sleeves" {alt or pareti), as the ends 

 are called, forming a kind of bag (Pansa, Sacco), thus preventing the escape 

 of the fish underneath when the net is being hauled in. 



It is used for catching fish which are found near the surface of the water : 

 the "back" (ima da cortici) is well supported by corks, and the "foot" 

 {ima da piombd) sufficiently weighted to maintain the perpendicular position 

 in the water. If worked from the shore, it is cast in a semicircle, and in a 

 circle if worked from the boats ; in either case the ends are, sooner or later, 

 brought together, thus enclosing the fish. The net does not touch the bed 

 when cast, but when drawn ashore by both ends simultaneously the whole 

 " foot," or lower edge of the net, as a rule, touches the shore-incline at the 

 same time, by reason of the greater depth of the middle than the wings ; 

 as the net is drawn in, the fish congregate in the bag and are hauled ashore. 

 The net is so made that when suspended in the water the meshes are 

 opened by the intrinsic weight of the net, but when in the act of being hauled 

 in the meshes close, the tension beinsr horizontal instead of vertical ; and 



Q 



