66 BOTANY 



Scomber, the Muraena anguilla, and Sepia octopus. 

 The most favourite kinds are the John Dorees, red 

 surmullets, anchovies, and sardines, especially the 

 three latter, which are to be had in great perfection, 

 and are exceedingly cheap. A pennyworth of fish is 

 sufficient for a moderate-sized family ; the poorer 

 classes rarely eat any other animal food. 



Ayala, a Spanish writer, in his interesting ' History 

 of Gibraltar/ mentions that an extensive tunny-fishery 

 was rented to the city of Gibraltar for 10,000 mar a- 

 vedies, though now this fish is not at all common in 

 the Mediterranean ; whereas, some centuries ago, 

 ships were loaded with them from neighbouring ports, 

 and the fishery afforded a large revenue to the state. 

 " Above all things," says Portillo (quoted by Ayala), 

 " is there in Gibraltar a great abundance of fish ; 

 that from thence great part of Andalusia is supplied 

 with carriers, who, to get a load of fish, carry there 

 one of bread or oil ; as are also Malaga, Almeria, 

 and the neighbouring towns."* Even in the present 

 day, large quantities of preserved anchovies and sar- 

 dines are exported from Gibraltar. 



The botanist, after having gratified his taste for 

 fishes, will pass through the Puerta de la Tierra, and 

 find himself outside the rock of Gibraltar. On the 

 left is the bay, which at this part has extensive oyster- 

 beds, reserved for the Gibraltar market. The lagoon 

 (see Ayala), now turned into a kind of moat, called the 



* See Mr. Bell's excellent translation of Ayala's work, 

 just published by Pickering. 



