HAUNTS OF FJSn. 137 



of tlie net. This method of fishing is practised at a 

 distance of one or two leagues from the coast. At the 

 period of spawning a different plan is adopted. The 

 fish then approach the shore to deposit their eggs 

 upon the shallow sands, and are caught in great 

 seines or drawnets in the ordinary way. 



The sardine fishery is managed like that of the 

 anchovies, only the meshes of the net are a little 

 more open. The sardine is found in its highest per- 

 fection on the coasts of Biittany. 



Herrings, mackerel, and co 1 prefer to deposit 

 their spawn in rocky localities ; anchovies love better 

 the shallow sandy bottoms. Thus the character of 

 the sea-bottom influences the inhabitants of the 

 deep in their peregrinations. Some examples of this 

 fact are generally known. The following is one of 

 the most remarkable. 



The Spaniards for a long time enjoyed the mo- 

 nopoly of the tunny trade: seven immense es- 

 tablishments of this fishery existed on the shores 

 neighbouring the Straits of Gibraltar ; and there 

 passed annually through the Pillars of Hercules 

 more than four hundred thousand of this fish. This 

 source of wealth was lost in a single day, owing to 

 the earthquake whi(;h overthrew Lisbon. The Span- 

 ish coasts were rocky, and furnished an agreeable 

 resort to the oceanic travellers. On the day of the 



