6 FISHERIES AND FISHERMEN 



with the mollusc language might have perceived that he 

 was comparing the relative advantages of shell-fish and 

 their captors for the benefit of his friend. " I know quite 

 well," whispered the Kaki languidly, " that unfortunate 

 human race which cannot even breathe this delicious atmo- 

 sphere. They are all an unhappy lot, and have very little 

 idea of the pleasures of existence ; but those who are the 

 particular enemies of us and of others who dwell in the 

 ocean, are worst off by far. Just look at the whole race of 

 fishermen — I don't care of what country or what age — I 

 defy you to mention a single man of wealth, or leisure, or 

 importance amongst them, unless it was Masaniello — and 

 how long did he keep his power. They are all as poor as a 

 periwinkle, and as unprotected as a jellyfish. As for their 

 houses, did any one ever hear of a fisherman living in a 

 cottage lined with mother-of-pearl .? And then look at the 

 dangers which they are incessantly incurring. There comes 

 a little puff and over they go, while I lie here and watch 

 their bodies floating about upon the surface." Just at this 

 moment a strange shadow passed across the sunlight ; 

 quick as thought the Kaki stopped his discourse and closed 

 his shell with a snap. At last, when a long period had 

 elapsed and he felt that all danger was past, he opened his 

 eyes, — and found himself deposited upon the cool white 

 marble of a fishmonger's stall. 



In the sensations experienced by the hero of this little 

 Eastern apologue, that of surprise would doubtless have pre- 

 dominated, but we question whether his astonishment would 

 not have been higher in degree, as well as pleasanter in kind, 

 if, instead of finding himself upon a stall in the Japanese mar- 

 ket, he had awoke amid the magnificence of the International 

 Fisheries Exhibition. For many of the remarks made by the 

 acute, though rather too self-confident, mollusc were perfectly 



