206 TOILERS IN THE SEA. 



the port nearest to the spot where they mean to 

 fish, the " carte " are sent in to the consul, which 

 they are compelled to take again on return. A 

 piastre is paid by each vessel for the magic endorse- 

 ment of his Excellenza, another to the druggist, 

 and another to the medical man ; whilst the cap- 

 tain, to strengthen his power, and to secure in- 

 demnity, in case of some of those gentle excesses 

 which bilious captains are sometimes apt to com- 

 mit, has generally on board some private "re- 

 galo" for his consul. The next morning, perhaps, 

 they push out to sea, and commence opera- 

 tions, not to return that evening, or the 

 next, or the next, but to remain at sea for a 

 fortnight, or a month at a time, working night 

 and day without intermission. The more humane 

 captains allow half their crews to repose from Ave 

 Maria to midnight, and the other half from mid- 

 night to the break of day ; others allow only two 

 hours' repose at a time ; whilst some, again, 

 allow no regular time ; " so that," said a poor 

 mariner to me, "we sleep as we can, either stand- 

 ing, or as we haul in the nets." Nor do they fare 

 better than they sleep ; for the whole time they 

 have nothing literally nothing but biscuit 

 and water, whilst the captain, as a privileged 

 person, has his dish of dried beans or haricots 

 boiled. Should they, however, have a run of good 



