Coral and the Coral Fisheries. 449 



qualities of the coral, but also from special circumstances 

 which the markets of distant countries cause, the sale of 

 coral being much smaller in Europe than elsewhere. The 

 fishermen, however, have attained to a degree of shrewd- 

 ness and overreaching which is very remarkable. If, for 

 instance, they are successful in finding a fine branch of the 

 coveted pale rose coral, they will not dispose of it alone, 

 but make it the medium for getting rid of their whole 

 stock, covenanting that the purchaser shall take the entire 

 lot for some fixed sum. The purchase of coral by the 

 dealer becomes, therefore, quite a lottery ; for until the 

 bark, as it is technically termed, is removed, he knows not 

 what is the condition of the coral. Much of it may be 

 rotten or worm-eaten, and only very little of it solid and of 

 a useful character for working up. 



The most ancient seat of exploration for coral was 

 Sicily. In the time of Cosmo I. of Medici, it was intro- 

 duced by this prince at Pisa, where Sicilian workmen were 

 located, and where, up to the present day, as well as in 

 Leghorn, there is a certain trade in coral. 



Trapani has, however, always been the great seat of art 

 manufacture in coral, and some masterly pieces of work, 

 mythological and religious subjects, have been turned out 

 there. Indeed, a royal coral factory was established and 

 encouraged at Portici, near Naples, by Murat, during his 

 sovereignty. 



His Grace the Duke of St. Albans possesses a fine 

 carved head in coral, evidently of Greek workmanship, 

 which proves that this material for artistic purposes is of 

 very ancient origin. 



The value of the coral annually obtained from Sardinia 

 is about ;^6o,ooo, which, after deducting all expenses, 

 leaves a net profit of .^^ 13,000. The quantity exported 



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