PITCHING MULLET NETS. 59 



as, in an hour we crossed the bay and reached our destina- 

 tion, accompanied by the tall melancholy looking man, who 

 had been my companion in the island. 



We dined sumptuously. The flavour of a mullet, fresh 

 from the water, neither injured by land- carriage* nor spoiled 

 by exposure to the sun, is exquisite. I mentioned casually, 

 the noble addition which this delicious fish must give to my 

 cousin's cuisine. " And they are so abundant, that I presume 

 you seldom want them ?" " The contrary is the case/' he 

 replied; "a remnant of barbarous usage prevents this wild 

 population from benefiting by the ample supply which Pro- 

 vidence sends to the shores. Did you remark several boats 

 approach and reconnoitre us ?" 



" Yes, and what of it ?" 



" Nothing more than that they came with the laudable 

 design of relieving us of the produce of our fishery. The 

 natives believe that there is a prescriptive right to rob mullet- 

 nets ; and in consequence, none will be at the trouble of laying 

 them down, if they have not a sufficient party to protect the 

 fish when taken. You remarked the formidable preparations 

 made this morning ; they were requisite I assure you, or we 

 should have returned home as lightly laden as we left it. 

 Those people are not upon my territory, and I am on bad 

 terms with their landlord. They would spoil me of fish 

 without ceremony, and think themselves too indulgent in 

 permitting me and my dependants to return with undamaged 

 heads. Last year they robbed and beat my boatmen cruelly 

 and on the next occasion of a mullet chasse, I went in person. 

 They soon discovered us, and with three boats full of men 

 came to despoil us. I warned them off but they were reso- 

 lutely bent on mischief. Finding them determined, I let the 

 leading boat approach within forty yards, and having them 

 well under my fire, threw in two barrels loaded with B.B. 

 shot. The effect was decisive, for out of a dozen marauders 



* The general length of the common mullet (mugil) is from twelve to 

 eighteen inches. When used immediately after being taken, the fish is 

 excellent; carriage, even for a short distance, injures it, Dr. Bloch 

 recommends oil and lemon-juice to be used with it at table. Vinegar, with 

 parsley and melted butter, is better "probatum est." This fish is 

 sometimes preserved by salting ; and from its spawn an inferior kind of 

 caviar, called Botargo, is prepared by using the common process of curing 

 and drying. 



