144 MARINE PRODUCTS OF COMMERCE 



Some coral is collected by divers working from small boats near the shore where 

 the water is not over 10 feet deep; but the largest and most beautiful coral grows 

 in much deeper water and is inaccessible even to fully equipped divers. To obtain 

 it the coral fisheries of the Mediterranean use a specially constructed instrument, 

 called "ingegno" by the Italians, "engin" by the French. It consists of two cross- 

 pieces of solid oak, the length, varying with the size of the fishing boat, from 

 1 to 2/2 meters, or even more. The two pieces are firmly bound together in the 

 middle so as to form four long tapering arms. At the point of contact is attached 

 a heavy object which causes the "engine" to sink in the water. Each of the four 

 arms is encircled by a groove along which passes a rope from 6 to 8 yards long, 

 one end of which is fastened. At the intersection of the arms is attached a fifdi 

 and still longer rope. To these ropes are bound at regular intervals the actual 

 implements for seizing the coral. These are very coarse-woven, square nets, with 

 a mesh, several centimeters wide, made of loosely twisted hemp-twine as thick 

 as a finger. In all there may be from 30 to 40 such nets on a machine. Alongside 

 the coarse-meshed nets hangs one of finer mesh, commonly made from the old 

 nets used in sardine fishing. The machine, which is fastened to the bark by a 

 long cable, is cast into the water and the nets spread out. The weight of the 

 machine carries them down to the bottom and the pieces of coral and other 

 material become entangled in the meshes. Considerable time is needed for operat- 

 ing the machines and, as a rule, the process of sinking, raising, and cleaning out 

 the nets can only be repeated 6 or 7 times in the course of a day. 



Japanese Methods. In Japan coral is found chiefly in the southwestern waters 

 affected by the warm current. Here it grows on rocks 30 to 100 fathoms vmder the 

 surface. Small boats, manned by 3 or 4 men, are used. A very simple, strong net, 

 about 5/2 by 6 feet, is attached to a 6-foot bamboo pole. At each end of the pole 

 is a small net of ropes, 5 fathoms long, under which 10 similar nets are hung by 

 means of 5-foot ropes. Below the 10 nets 3 nets are hung by means of brass wire 

 and 7-fathom ropes. Each of these nets has a stone weight of 1/2 pounds. A 2/2 

 pound stone is attached to the middle of the bamboo pole, to which are tied 

 4 ropes, each 7 feet long; this device keeps the nets in equilibrium when tied to- 

 gether and dragged over the bottom by a rope 100 or more fathoms in length. 

 When the nets are drawn over the coral reefs, the first net brushes the coral oflE 

 the rocks and the other nets catch it and bring it to the surface. 



Grading of Coral 



Coral, as it is obtained by fishermen, is called rough coral. Before it is marketed, 

 it is sorted into the following grades: 



Dead or Rotten Coral. This consists chiefly of the lower portion of the main 

 stem and the disklike "foot" of the coral stock. When the outer crust is removed, 

 valuable pieces of coral are often found. Often the broad footplates are worked 

 into small dishes and bowls. 



Black Coral. This includes coral in which the black color extends through the 

 whole or a large part of its substance. 



Common Red. Red coral of all kinds, with the exception of pieces of exceptional 

 size, are placed in this class. It embraces alike whole stocks and broken fragments 

 irrespective of form and size. 



