CORAL FISHING. 73 



" The lines, wood, and irons employed in the coral fisheries are called the engine ; it 

 consists of a cross of wood formed of two bars strongly lashed or bolted together at their 

 centre ; below this a great stone is attached, which bears the lines, arranged in the form of a sac. 

 These lines have great meshes, loosely knotted together, resembling the well-known swab. 



" The apparatus carries thirty of these sacs, which are intended to grapple all they come 



CORAL FISHING. 



in contact with at the bottom of the sea. They are spread out in all directions by the move 

 ment of the boat. The coral is known to attach itself to the summit of a rock, and to 

 develop itself, forming banks there, and it is to these rocks that the swab attaches itself so 

 as to tear up the precious harvest. Experience, which in time becomes almost intuitive, 

 guides the Italian fisher in discovering the coral banks. 



" When the padrone thinks he has reached a coral bank, he throws his engine over- 

 board. As soon as the apparatus is fairly at the bottom the speed of the vessel is slacked, 

 130 



