1196 EEPORT OF COMMISSIONEE OF FISH AND FISHERIES, [14] 



16,500,000 pounds of imperfectlj^ cured fisli for the consumption of the 

 inhabitants. It does not appear that any of the fish is exported, with 

 the exception of a small quantity to the island of Cuba. The fishing 

 banks are within the belt of the northeast trade-winds, which blow al- 

 most constantly ; and so mild is the climate and so moderate the winds 

 that during the four centuries while Spain has possessed the islands 

 not a single fishing vessel, so far as is known, has been lost from stress 

 of weather. The products of this fishery might be greatly increased 

 if larger and more commodious vessels were employed, and if the im- 

 proved methods of curing practiced by other nations were at the same 

 time generally introduced. 

 United States Consulate-Geneeal, 



Madrid, Spain, Octoher 30, 1883. 



11.— THE FISHERIES OF MADEIRA IN 1882. 



By L. Du Pont Syle, Consul. 



The Portuguese peasant seldom eats meat, but vegetables and a mor- 

 sel of fish form his staple food. The Government lays a heavy tax upon 

 fish, and obtains a considerable part of its revenue from this source. 

 The fisheries, consequently, are but little developed in comparison with 

 what might be done. 



Fish of the following kinds are found near the coast of the Madeira 

 Islands: Perch, red mullet, gray mullet, beryx, barracudai, gurnard, 

 sea-bream, pickerel, flag-fish, mackerel, zemdse, wrasse, pike, herring, 

 codfish, eel, and flat-fish. 



The only freshwater fish are eels, of which there are several kinds. 

 They are taken in the mountain streams. 



Tunnies of large size are caught in the deep-sea fishing grounds, as 

 also is the cherne. Turtles are taken chiefly during the summer time, 

 and vary in size ; thej^ are not so highly prized as the West India tur- 

 tles, but nevertheless make good aoup. Shrimps (camaroen>«) are some- 

 times offered for sale. Madeira lobsters are very different in appear- 

 ance from those in England. Crabs are small and not worth eating. 

 The white-bait (guelros) of Madeira are exceedingly good, and are 

 caught chiefly after heavy rains, when they come in shoals to the muddy 

 waters brought down by the mountain torrents. 



At low water innumerable limpets and ijeriwinkles are seen on the 

 rocks, and crabs of every size are scattered around. Sea-urchins with 

 long spines are dangerous to bathers, and have been known to cause 

 serious trouble to those that stepped on them. Occasionally the fisher- 

 men bring in curious sea-monsters — the Urgamanta, for instance, the 

 creature described in Yictor Hugo's " Toilers of the Sea." This is much 

 dreaded by the boys diving around the ships at anchor, for it comes to 



