168 THE SULPHUR OF ITALY. 



The liquation is performed in the Calcaroni or open kilns already 

 described ; the loss of sulphur is estimated at one-third of the "whole 

 contents of the ore. 



The greater part of the sulphur obtained is not refined in the island, 

 but is exported in the crude state. For commercial purposes it is classi- 

 fied into three qualities, which are further divided into seven sub- 

 classes, which are known as : — 



1st quality. 



( best, 

 2nd quality, < good, 



( ordinary. 



( best, 

 3rd quality, < good, 



( ordinary. 



There are about fifty mines at present at work in Sicily, employing 

 twenty thousand hands. 



The production of 1861 is approximately estimated at 150,000 tons 

 of commercial sulphur, of which about one-half was from the province 

 of Caltanisetta, one-third from Girgenti, 25,000 tons from the province 

 of Catania, and 20,000 tons from Palermo. The province of Trapani did 

 not contribute more than a few hundred tons. 



The principal shipping places are Girgenti, whence about half the 

 total amount is exported, Licata, Catania, Palermo, Terranova, Siculiana, 

 Palma, and Messina. About two-thirds of the quantity exported is 

 taken by France and England, the remainder goes to Germany, Holland, 

 the remaining countries of Europe, and the United States of America. 



The price has increased very considerably during the last few years ; 

 in 1860 it varied between 12s. and 16s. per ton. 



The Sponge Fishery of Rhodes. — The following shows the value 

 in round numbers of the sponges sold in 1861. Fine, 41,000Z. ; com- 

 mon, 63,000 J. ; coarse, 7,000Z. ; total, 111,000Z. Part of the sponges 

 fished in the autumn of 1860, were sold in the early part of 1861, at 

 450 piastres per oke, for fine, 120 for common, and 60 for coarse, 

 which are the highest ever reached for the fine and coarse qualities. 

 Towards the end of the year, the prices declined nearly one-fourth. 

 The crop of 1861 was abundant, the proportion of fine sponges was 

 larger and of a better quality than in former years. The divers say 

 that the same quantity are not now found as ten years ago, so it must 

 be inferred that they do not grow as fast as they are fished. The amount 

 of crop sent to each country, was in the following proportion ; out of 

 36 parts, Great Britain 13, France, 15^, Austria, 5 J, and Constantinople, 

 2 ; total 36. 



