56 
energy and experience of Signor Silva de Ferro, proceeds 
from the Island of Gracioza to the north of Lanzarote of 
the Canaries. The working fleet is composed of two 
steamers of 50 toms each, engaged in transporting clean 
fish from the banks to Gracioza at eighty tons a week ; 
six schooners of some 60 or 70 tons each, and ten sea~- 
fishing boats (the schooners and boats conduct the fishing 
on the banks). 
The industry is pursued all the year round, and carried 
on south of Canaries along the African coast, as far as Cape 
Blanco, viz., between 29° and 20° N. lat. Pelagic and shore 
fish are most plentiful, and offer here as elsewhere on 
this coast a field for an extended industry. 
Signor Ferro has assured me, that within fifteen minutes 
he had on one occasion secured from the African shore 20 
tons of herrings by means of a seine of 90 fathoms in 
length, let down by one small boat; further, he has seen 
one of his Masters catch: in 32 fathoms of water—depth 
at which fishing for big fish is generally conducted—110 
large fish within two hours. 
Within four months, 600 tons of dry and pickled fish have 
been exported from Gracioza, where the air is said to be 
so dry that the cleaning, pickling, and drying process only. 
requires ten days, when the fish, sometimes two or three 
inches thick in the meat, is ready for export. The direc- 
tions of export have been to Spain, Cuba, South America, 
and Fernando Po, the transport being effected by sailing 
vessels, and steamers. 
Signor Ferro can load now in ten days what used to take 
formerly two months. This saving of time is due to the 
use of herring—so easily and generally obtained—as bait. 
Formerly the Canary fishermen, who are described as so 
conservative as not to have made any progress, ‘at least, in 
