478 THE CORAL OF COMMERCE. 



surveyed by the United States Government towards the 

 close of 1871. These were : Ocean Island, lat. 28 25' K, 

 long. 178 25' W.; Medway Island, lat. 28 15' N.. 

 long. 178 20' W.; Pearl and Hume's Islands, lat. 27 

 50' 1ST., and long. 175 50' W. They are described as 

 abounding in turtle and sea-birds ; but only scantily 

 clothed with vegetation. In this way the laborious 

 corallines are continually filling up the vast intervals of 

 Ocean, and stretching from continent to continent a chain 

 of isles. 



But we must return to the immediate subject of this 

 chapter, from which the coral animals have led us far 

 astray. 



The coral of commerce is found principally in the 

 Mediterranean (off the west coast of Sicily*) and the 

 Red Sea, and at depths, and under conditions, which 

 vary according to the nature of the locality. On the 

 French shores it forms immense masses with a southward 

 front, while it is seldom found on rocks facing towards 

 the east and west, and never upon those which lie open 

 to the north. According to Lamouroux, in this part of 

 the Mediterranean coral does not occur at a lesser depth 

 than 10 feet, and at a greater than 950 to 1000 feet. 

 The usual depth at which the fishery is prosecuted is 

 between 350 and 600 feet. 



On the coast of Northern Africa, the coral adheres to 

 the rocks which face the south, south-east, and south- 

 west. Here the fishers carry on their operations three 

 or four leagues out at sea, from a depth of 100 or .130 

 feet down to 800 and 900 feet. 



* Rear-Admiral Smyth, " Sicily," p 25. 



