Italy. 281 



coasts was valued at the same date at about seven millions of francs annually. The incomplete 

 official returns for 1882 give a total of 39 Tonnare, not all at work, and the produce of four of 

 these (Pizzo, Bivona, Ischia and S. Margherita) is rated at 271,120 lire. 2. Swordfish Fishery. 

 This fish (Xiphias gladim) is the object of a very peculiar if not extensive fishery on the 

 Calabrian and Sicilian coasts and in the adjacent Straits of Messina, between the months of 

 April and September. These fish, which have ithe habit of swimming near the surface, and 

 who also travel in considerable numbers in that season, are sighted by look-outs (antennieri) 

 usually seated on the very tall masts of peculiar boats (feluche), near these are stationed a 

 number of fast boats (lontri) with a shorter mast, on which is perched theforiere who follows 

 the direction shouted and pointed to by the antenniere ; on the prow stands the harpooner 

 (lanciatore), and as the boat is swiftly rowed up to the fish, he throws his harpoon (draffi- 

 niera), the wounded fish is followed up by a second fast boat, the first returning near that 

 which holds the antenniere. It is a most exciting scene, witnessed once near Messina. It has 

 been described, nearly in the same words, by Polibius and Spallanzani and Vetrioli, at an 

 interval of nigh 2000 years. 3. Anchovy and Sardine Fisheries. These two fisheries, which 

 give yearly a very considerable produce, take place usually during the summer months, and 

 the nets called manaide are more frequently used. The anchovy (Engraulis enchrasicholus) 

 is caught in greater numbers in the middle and southern parts of the Mediterranean, and 

 especially amongst the Tuscan islands and off the coasts of Sicily ; also in the Adriatic, towards 

 the Dalmatian coast. This fishery is practised by fishermen from Chioggia and Ancona. At 

 night fires are lighted to attract the fish, which keep in shoals. The sardine (Clupea pil- 

 chardus) is caught in much the same manner and during the same season. Both are usually 

 salted, and a preliminary cure is given by the fishermen themselves in their boats. To give 

 an idea of the value of this fishery it may be stated that at Palermo alone the produce at one 

 season was 600,000 kilogrammes of sardines, valued at 200,000 francs, and 400,000 kilogrammes 

 of anchovies, valued at 400,000 francs. 4. Halee Fishery This fish (Merluccius vulgaris) is 

 commonly known by the name of Nasello. It is one of the commonest and most esteemed 

 fish of the Italian seas, and may constantly be seen in numbers, of all sizes, in our markets. In 

 winter it is generally taken by trawling, but during the summer months it appears to retire 

 to deeper waters, and then very large specimens are caught by hook and line, with the pala- 

 miti or palangrese ; with it are also taken ;in depths, varying from 3 to 800 metres, huge 

 congers, Mora Mediterranea, Phycis, and other species. 5. Whitebait Fishery. This special 

 fishery is only allowed, for particular reasons, in a few localities principally along the Ligurian 

 coast. It is practised with trawling-nets of a very fine texture, and only from January to 

 April. Under the generic name of " whitebait " have been included the " Mossetti," scienti- 

 fically known as Latrunculus pellucidus and the " Bianchetti," which are the young fry of the 

 anchovy and sardine ; the destruction of the latter is certainly detrimental to fishery interests, 

 and ought to be stopped or restricted as much as possible. 6. Lobster Fishery. In the Italian 

 seas the common lobster of Northern Europe (Homarus marinus') is rather of rare occurrence, 

 and is replaced by our " Aligusta " or " Aragosta " (Palinurus vulgaris), the object of a most 

 lucrative fishery on the rocky parts of our coasts, and more especially amongst our smaller 

 islands. Civita Vecchia, Pozzuoli, and Maddalena, in Sardinia, are three of the principal 

 centres for lobster fishermen ; these men seek their fishing grounds at considerable distances 

 from their homes, they go in parties in smallish lateen sailed boats, secure their prey with 

 peculiar nets or basket-traps (wasse), keep the lobsters imprisoned under water in much larger 

 nasse, and awaiting an opportunity, embark them alive, carefully wrapped in wet sea-weed 

 on some passing steamer. I once met several of these fishermen on the small island of Monte- 

 cristo, they then had over 2,000 lobsters which they were preparing to ship to Genoa. 7. Sepia 

 Fishery. From very ancient times the capture of the common cuttle-fish (Sepia officinalis) has 

 been the object of a very peculiar fishery on the Southern Adriatic coasts, from Bari to Man- 

 fredonia : small bunches of lentisk (Pistacia lentiscus), called vorle, are tied at intervals to a 

 rope and fixed under water at about 8 or 10 metres from the shore; the cuttlefish 'seek their 

 shelter to deposit their eggs, and are then easily caught. The present law forbids this destruc- 

 tive kind of fishing. 8. Pinna Fishery. Near Elba, on the Sardinian coasts, and especially 

 at S. Autioco, at Taranto, Gallipoli, and along the Sicilian shores, in comparatively shallow 

 water, lives the large and beautiful Pinna nobilis, which is sought for on account of its shell, 



