236 TTTi<: BOTTOM OF Tnn sp:a. 



the exit of the air, of which they have taken a deep 

 breath previous to tlieir descent. Having reached 

 the bottom, they commence operations by giving the 

 signal to those who remain in the boat that they 

 may raise the stone, after which they set to work 

 collecting the shells, with which they fill their nets 

 as speedily as possible ; they then make another 

 signal, upon which the net is raised, and immediately 

 afterwards they themselves rise to breathe. All the 

 shells are carried to the shore, where they are piled 

 in heaps until the fishing-season, which lasts during 

 November and December, is at an end. 



The holothuria, or trepangr, much sought after in 

 Asia, is gathered by divers, or harpooned on the 

 bodies to which it attaclies itself. The harpoon is 

 fixed to the extremity of a series of long bamboos 

 fitting one within another. Leaning over the bow of 

 his boat, the fisher gazes into the deptlis of the sea ; 

 the most perfect calm is indispensable, and it is as- 

 serted that in such case he can see, at a depth of 

 100 feet, the animal attached to the rocks or coral 

 banks ; the harpoon descends as gentli-^ as possible 

 until it reaches the animal, when it strikes it sud- 

 denly, and rarely in vain. 



In the greatest number of instances the diver de- 

 scends as far as his sight will permit him, but this 

 fc^ to a si i ght depth onl}- Modern apparatus facilitates 



