THE WILD BOARS OF THE OCEAN. 137 



four boats. Then, at the Avord of command, the 

 two largest boats drew up on either side of the 

 middle chamber or purse, which four men forthwith 

 began to haul up towards the surface of the water. 

 There they were, fluttering about with their blue 

 backs, without the slightest suspicion of the fate 

 which awaited them. That was the difficult job, to 

 get the fish into the bottom of the biggest boat, 

 without letting any of them drop back into the sea. 

 The fishermen, however, who were generally speaking 

 very strong and skilful, would seize them by the tail, 

 lifting them with Herculean force, and dash them 

 at the bottom of the boat, where they would lie 

 struggling and palpitating in the last agony. As 

 soon as this operation was completed, the net was 

 replaced at the bottom of the water, and once more 

 secured by its anchors, and to its weights of lead and 

 stone ; after which the boats returned to Marseilles, 

 where the prey was handed over to those strapping 

 women-porters in petticoats, who carry the fish to 

 market. 



During the past century, the pleasure of tunny 

 fishing was a sport almost as much in vogue as 

 racing is in our own days. Every wealthy family 

 possessed a handsome boat, in which, accompanied 

 by friends, they would follow the tunny fishers ; and 

 the starting of the boats, adorned with bright flags 

 and streamers, and crowded with youth and beauty, 

 added to the beautiful aspect of the sea and the 



