482 THE CORAL-FISHER'S HABITS. 



the padrone liberally rains upon them. They would, in- 

 deed, sink under the toil if they did not incessantly recruit 

 their energies by eating, without interrupting their task 

 however, the supply of biscuit placed within their reach ; 

 so that it may justly be said, " the coral-fisher is always 

 devouring." The expression has become proverbial. 



Even in what are figuratively called their " hours of 

 rest " they are not idle, for the work of repairing the 

 nets, or weaving new ones, is necessarily continuous : in 

 this their skill is remarkable, and when they are worn 

 out with fatigue, and almost asleep, their fingers will 

 mechanically tie the knots. Their working day is eighteen 

 hours long; their rations, biscuit and water ad libitum, 

 and, in the evening, some pates a Vltalienne; wine and 

 meat twice a year, on Ascension Day and the Feast of 

 Corpus Christi. First-class sailors are paid from 400 to 

 600 francs (16 to 24) for the season of six months; 

 inferior men, about half this amount. The occupation is 

 so laborious and the pay so indifferent, that the Sicilians 

 have a saying, Only a thief or a murderer turns coral- 

 fisher. 



But bad as their character generally is, they do not 

 lack the customary devotion or superstition of the Ital- 

 ians ; and when the net is cast, on the first day of the 

 season, they fall on their knees, and the first fine branch 

 of coral brought up they dedicate to the " Good Mother," 

 the Blessed Virgin, always provided the fishing proves 

 abundant. 



It is considered a good season when a large boat col- 

 lects 300 kilogrammes (5 cwt., 3 qrs., 18 Ibs. English) of 

 coral, which is worth between 80 and 120 ; and a small 

 boat, half that quantity. 



