FISH AND FISHEEIES. 123 



provisions supplied to the Greek fishing boats and coasters. The Indians 

 of North-western America look upon them as the proverbial alderman re- 

 gards turtle and devour them with the same gusto and relish. They roast 

 the glutinous carcass instead of making soup of it. In Chili, Peru, Brazil, 

 and TenerifFe they are eagerly sought for, and they are an article of daily 

 consumption in India and China. Japan has already been mentioned. 



From a Report on the Tunisian Fisheries by W. Kirby-Green, 

 British Consul at Tunis,* we learn very interesting particulars about this 

 fish and its fishery. The villages in the neighbourhood of Karkenah 

 are the chief localities where the cuttle-fish are obtained, and the 

 produce yields in a good season about 125 tons, in an average year 

 90 tons, in a year of scarcity 50 tons. In a good season the whole 

 of the island of Karkenah supplies about 150 tons, and the Jerbah 

 waters a third of this quantity. On the shores from the village 

 of Luesa to that of Chneies, in the Gulf of Khabs, the natives collect from 

 4 to 5 cwt. during the season. The cuttles prefer the rocky shallows, 

 coming from the open sea in the months of January, February, and March. 

 Tlie fry is observed from the months of June to August, and then the 

 fishing is good, but if it be late, such as ISTovember and December, thft 

 following season is bad. On the arrival of the cuttles in the shallows,, 

 they keep in masses or shoals, but speedily separate in search of shelter- 

 am ong the rocks near the beach, covered by only 1 or 2 feet of water, 

 and in stony localities prepared for them by the fishermen in order to. 

 facilitate the deposit of spawn. In deep water they are taken by means 

 of earthen jars strung together and lowered to the bottom where they are 

 allowed to remain for some time, during which the fish introduce them- 

 selves. From eight to ten cuttles are taken at each visit of the fisher- 

 men. In shallower water earthenware drain-pipes are placed side by 

 side, for distances frequently exceeding half-a-mile in length, these the 

 cuttles readily enter and are captured. They are attracted by all white 

 smooth and bright substances, and the natives deck suitable places in 

 the inlets and hollows of the rocks with white stones and shells, over 

 which the cuttles spread themselves and are captured four to eight at a 

 time. But the most successful manner of securing these fish is that 

 pursued by the inhabitants of Karkenah, who form long lanes and 

 labyrinths in the shallows by planting the butt ends of palm branches at 

 short distances from each other, and these constructions extend over 

 spaces of two or more miles on the ebb of the tides. f The cuttles are 

 easily collected and strung in bunches of fifty. The capture can be 

 increased indefinitely by the use of these labyrinths of palm branches,, 

 which seem to have a peculiar attraction for these fishes. They have 

 been hitherto prepared for exportation by simply salting and drying ; 

 but are now preserved either in oil or brine after a previous scouring, 

 and boiling. The price varies, but the range is between 6d. and Is. Sd.. 

 for a pair of fresh fish. Before being dried they are beaten between two- 

 stones, and this labour raises the expense from between 25s. to 50s. per 

 cwt., to the cost j)rice is added an export duty of 5s. Id. per cwt. Malta 



* Published in the London Standard, December, 1874. 



+ Li the Syrtis the ebb and flow is 10 feet, a wonderful tide for the Mediter- 

 ranean. See Richardson's ' 'Travels in the Desert, " He mentions the Palm Branch 

 Fishery, but did not know it was for cuttle-fish, 



