356 THE WORLD OF THE SEA. 
writhing mass of their fellow-prisoners. The blue water becomes 
stained with blood as the slaughter proceeds, and the wounded and 
terrified fish cry like children. It is a sad massacre, and the sight 
is described by those who have witnessed it, as most painful. 
Finally, the fish are secured, and the laden boats bear their prize to 
the land. The undertaking is not devoid of danger; indeed, when 
there is a large “take,” the fishermen dare not approach; but 
they row near the wall of the enclosure, and after a fashion, lasso 
the fish; it often requires two or three men to drag on board a 
tunny thus secured. 
In 1861, in the Bay of Porto Ferrajo, one hundred and sixty 
tunnies were taken in a madrague ; many of them weighed 300 lbs., 
so that altogether there were some four or five tons of fish. 
When Louis XIII. visited Marseilles, for the diversion of the 
monarch a tunny fishing was inaugurated, and His Majesty wit- 
nessed the haul we have briefly described, and was pleased to 
remark, that it was the most enjoyable thing he had witnessed 
on his tour. 
The flesh of the tunny is exceedingly firm, and is even preferred 
to that of the salmon. We cannot, however, but regret that the 
fishing is not conducted more humanely. 
