^GG THE NATURAL HISTORY RETIEW. 



epidermis or the deeper tissues of the body is examined into, and it 

 is shown that the union of several of the spicules takes place inter- 

 nally to form the nucleus of the coral, and its growth is effected by 

 a continued accretion of other spicules which are united around it 

 by a cement having precisely the same chemical composition. The 

 formation of the coral can be well studied at the extremity of any of 

 the growing branches as the ragged end seen on the removal of the 

 fleshy portion of the twig presents the same appearance as is found 

 in the primitive nucleus. The whole process of formation is described 

 with great minuteness, and is well worth a careful study. The 

 chemical composition of the coral requires further investigation, and 

 that with the nature of the colouring matter the author thinks should 

 be made the subject of careful analysis. 



Having concluded his examination of the entire coral, the author 

 makes some remarks on its zoological position, and then proceeds to 

 give an account of the manner in which the fishery is carried on, 

 and the existing and proposed regulations for working it to the 

 greatest advantage. "We can here only glance at this part of the 

 subject. The fishery is worked with decked boats, having a crew 

 of from ten to twelve men each, and smaller half-decked craft 

 with half that complement. The apparatus in use is called the 

 machine {engin), and consists of a large wooden cross weighted at 

 the centre, and having, in the larger boats, about forty-eight nets 

 constructed of very stout twine attached to various parts of the 

 frame. The nets are made with a large mesh, loosely netted, and are, 

 each of them, fixed in such a manner as to form a kind of rosette or 

 mop, the several folds of which spread out when in the water and 

 cover a considerable space on the rocks, over which they are dragged. 

 The process of working the nets is a delicate one, and requires a 

 constant attention to the inequalities of the ground, which are easily 

 observed by the " feel" of the rope. The practised hand of the 

 master of the vessel is as useful in this case as in the somewhat 

 kindred occupation of trawling among our own fishermen, where the 

 hand placed on the trawl-rope shows distinctly whether or not the 

 trawl is working properly. The labour of coral-fishing appears to be 

 very great, and to this the author attributes the unwillingness of 

 the French to be employed in it, and the consequent gradual loss to 

 France of the profits to be derived from a steady attention to this 

 fishery. Divers and diving apparatus of various kinds have been pro- 

 posed as a substitute for the mechanical means now employed, but there 



