MBUA BAY AND MUTHUATA. 231 



market, where it is used as an ingredient in rich soups. Of the 

 biche de mar there are several kinds, some of which are much supe- 

 rior in quality to the others ; they are distinguishable both by shape 

 and colour, but more particularly by the latter. One of the inferior 

 kinds is slender and of a dark brown colour, soft to the touch, and 

 leaves a red stain on the hands; another is of a gray colour and 

 speckled ; a third is large and dark yellow, with a rough skin and 

 tubercles on its sides. 



The second kind is often eaten raw by the natives. 



The valuable sorts are six in number: one of a dark red colour; a 

 second is black, from two inches to nine inches in length, and its 

 surface, when cured, resembles crape ; a third kind is large and of a 

 dark gray colour, which, when cured, becomes a dirty white; the 

 fourth resembles the third, except in colour, which is a dark brown ; 

 the fifth variety is of a dirty white colour, with tubercles on its sides, 

 and retains its colour when cured ; the sixth is red, prickly, and of a 

 different shape and larger size than the others; when cured, it becomes 

 dark. 



The most esteemed kinds are found on the reefs, in water from one 

 to two fathoms in depth, where they are caught by diving. The 

 inferior sorts are found on reefs which are dry, or nearly so, at low 

 water, where they are picked up by the natives. The natives also 

 fish the biche de mar, on rocky coral bottom, by the light of the moon 

 or of torches, for the animals keep themselves drawn up in holes in 

 the sand or rocks by day, and come forth by night to feed, when they 

 may be taken in great quantities. The motions of the animal resem- 

 ble those of a caterpillar, and it feeds by suction, drawing in with 

 its food much fine coral and some small shells. 



Captain Egleston stated that the biche de mar is found in greatest 

 abundance on reefs composed of a mixture of sand and coral. The 

 animal is rare on the southern side of any of the islands, and the most 

 lucrative fisheries are on the northern side, particularly on that 

 of Vanua-levu, between Anganga and Druau. In this place, the 

 most freq\ient kind is that which resembles crape. In some places 

 the animal multiplies very fast, but there are others where, although 

 ten years have elapsed since they were last fished, none are yet to be 

 found. 



The biche de mar requires a large building to dry it in. That 

 erected by Captain Egleston, on the island of Tavea, is eigluy-five 

 feet long, about fifteen or twenty feet wide, and nearly as much in 



