FOOD FROM THE MOLLUSCA AND RADIATA. 



447 



The following quantities of Beche-de-mer were caught 

 on the Indian coasts and shipped from India, chiefly to 

 Singapore : — 



1875-6 



1876-7 



1877-8 



1878-9 



1879-80 



1880-1 



1881-2 



1882-3 



1883-4 



In 1884, 10,430 lbs. were 

 Ceylon and the Straits Seti 

 foreign catch was shipped to Hong Kong. 



Much of this is imported and then re-exported. 



The trepang abounds on the reefs that fringe, for so 

 many hundred miles, the northern coast of Queensland, 

 and many stations have been established for curing the 

 different edible species. Of late some of the hordes of 

 Chinese who have poured into the colony, have taken 

 up this fishery, and a regular junk, manned by Mon- 

 golian sailors, trades between the fishing stations and 

 collects the dried slug for export. There are probably 

 600 tons annually exported from the northern coast of 

 Australia. 



There formerly existed on the coasts of the peninsula 

 of Giens in the Mediterranean, a species of Ascidian, 

 popularly termed " Violet " or " Vichet," which was 

 much esteemed by the' gourmands of Marseilles and 

 Toulon. In consequence of excessive dredging it has 

 almost disappeared. They used to sell in the Marseilles 

 market at Id. and l^d. each, and owing to the seaweed 

 beds amoitg which they were found, they had an excep- 

 tionally pleasant flavour. 



About the Bahamas and other parts of the West 

 Indies, the edible Beche-de-mer abounds, but there is no 

 demand for them. It is quite possible, however, that an 

 enterprising individual, or firm, might reap such a 

 harvest as would make it worth while to participate in 



