126 FISHERY OFF THE SICILIAN COAST. 



in the year, it begins on the Sicilian coast. Between 

 two large boats, propelled by lateen sails, the net is 

 lowered to the bottom of the sea ; and as, under a press 

 of canvas, the brigantines dart onward, the rushing net 

 catches up everything it encounters in its course. " I 

 was present several times at this fishery," says Spallan- 

 zani, " and I am unable to say what numbers of small 

 fish fell victims to the barbarous process. Being worth- 

 less, they were flung back into the sea, but terribly 

 mutilated, and already dead from the terror they had ex- 

 perienced in the meshes of the net. I was informed that 

 at Geneva the practice was prohibited by law ; if so, the 

 statute was not strong enough to prevent three or four 

 couples of these brigantines from annually quitting the 

 Gulf of Spezzia and making for the high seas to pursue 

 this wasteful mode of fishing. And more : the governor 

 of the place, who ought to have watched over the execu- 

 tion of the law, was the first to encourage its infraction, 

 his acquiescence being purchased by the gift of a sum of 

 money." 



Only one species of the sword-fish is known Xipkias 

 gladius which abounds in the Mediterranean and in the 

 warmer parts of the Atlantic, but is not often seen on the 

 British coasts. Its body is elongated and covered with very 

 small scales. It has no teeth. There is one long dorsal 

 fin, but there are no finlets, and the ventral fins are want- 

 ing. The sides of the tail are strongly keeled or carin- 

 ated. The tail fin is large and forked. On the upper 

 part of the body the colour is a bluish-black, on the belly 

 a silverish-white, but the one blends gradually with the 

 other. 



