278 Voyage of the Novara. 



season, very stormy and dangerous. The fishermen use the 

 excellent whaleboats (or haleinieres\ so admirably suited to the 

 heavy swell of the Indian Ocean, in which they go out in the 

 morning, returning to the shore at nightfall. The species of 

 fish which is found in greatest numbers, and is caught exclu- 

 sively by the hook, is usually called by the fishermen, " Indian 

 Cod :" it is by no means, however, of the genus Haddock, and 

 very slightly, if at all, resembles the codfish of northern waters, 

 or common stock-fish, but seems to belong to the class of finger 

 fish (cheilo-dactylus-fasciatus'), which is usually classed among 

 the crow fish (^scicBnce). These are salted, dried in the open 

 air, packed in casks, and dispatched in large quantities to the 

 markets of St. Denis. It is calculated that the number thus 

 sent off" in the course of each year amounts to about 40,000. 

 which are sold in the market of St. Denis by the hundred, for 

 from 40 to 60 francs C^l 12s. to £2 8s.— total £640 to £960). 

 The expenses of maintaining the settlement is very small. — Viot 

 has 57 francs a month (£2 6s.); his two companions 40 francs 

 and 2.5 francs respectively (£1 12s. and £l)j the men engaged 

 in the fishery receive 25 to 30 francs a month, besides pro- 

 visions. The second voyage of the vessel ordinarily takes place 

 in January or February, so as to return in April or May, with 

 a similar cargo. It often happens that the owner of the vessel 

 finds some more profitable employment for it, when it only 

 returns during the second year, and their provisions, as meal, 

 rice, biscuit, tobacco, &c., get rather short. The settlers, 

 however, employ what leisure time remains after their work is 



