FISH AND FISHERIES. 123 
provisions supplied to the.Greek fishing boats and coasters. The Indians 
of North-western America look upon them as the proverbial alderman re- 
gards turtle and devour them with the same gusto and relish. They roast 
the glutinous carcass instead of making soup of it. In Chili, Peru, Brazil, 
and Teneriffe they are eagerly sought for, and they are an article of daily 
consumption in India and China. Japan has already been mentioned. 
From a Report on the Tunisian Fisheries by W. Kirby-Green, 
British Consul at Tunis,* we learn very interesting particulars about this 
fish and its fishery. The villages in the neighbourhood of Karkenah 
are the chief localities where the cuttlefish are obtained, and the 
produce yields in a good season about 125 tons, in an average year 
90 tons, in a year of scarcity 50 tons. In a good season the whole 
of the island of Karkenah supplies about 150 tons, and the Jerbah 
waters a third of this quantity. On the shores from the village 
of Luesa to that of Chneies, in the Gulf of Khabs, the natives collect from. 
4 to 5 cwt. during the season. The cuttles prefer the rocky shallows, 
coming from the open sea inthe months of January, February, and March.. 
The fry is observed from the months of June to August, and then the 
fishing is good, but if it be late, such as November and December, the 
following season is bad. On the arrival of the cuttles in the shallows, 
they keep in masses or shoals, but speedily separate in search of shelter 
among the rocks near the beach, covered by only 1 or 2 feet of water, 
and in stony localities prepared for them by the fishermen in- order to 
facilitate the deposit of spawn. In deep water they are taken by means 
of earthen jars strung together and lowered to the bottom where they are 
allowed to remain for some time, during which the fish introduce them- 
selves. ‘From eight to ten cuttles are taken at each visit of the fisher- 
men. In shallower water earthenware drain-pipes are placed side by 
side, for distances frequently exceeding half-a-mile in length, these the 
cuttles readily enter and are captured. They are attracted by all white 
smooth and bright substances, and the natives deck suitable places in 
the inlets and hollows of the rocks with white stones and shells, over 
which the cuttles spread themselves and are captured four to eight at a 
time. But the most successful manner of securing these fish is that 
pursued by the inhabitants of Karkenah, who form long lanes and 
labyrinths in the shallows by planting the butt ends of palm branches at 
short distances from each other, and these constructions extend over 
spaces of two or more miles on the ebb of the tides.t The cuttles are 
easily collected and strung in bunches of fifty. The capture can be 
increased indefinitely by the use of these labyrinths of palm branches, 
which seem to have a peculiar attraction for these fishes, They have 
been hitherto prepared for exportation by simply salting and drying ; 
but are now preserved either in oil or brine after a previous scouring 
and boiling. The price varies, but the range is between 6d. and 1s. 3d. 
for a pair of fresh fish. Before being dried they are beaten between two. 
stones, and this labour raises the expense from between 25s. to 50s. per 
cwt., to the cost price is added an export duty of 5s, 1d. percwt. Malta. 
* Published in the London Standard, December, 1874. 
+ In the Syrtis the ebb and flow is 10 feet, a wonderful tide for the Mediter-- 
ranean, See Richardson’s ‘‘Travels in the Desert.” He mentions the Palm Branch 
Fishery, but did not know it was for cuttle-fish, 
