io8 The Commercial Products of the Sea. 



ing until the moment of shipment, in order that they may not 

 imbibe moisture, for then they become flaccid and decay.* 



The following detailed account by Captain Andrew 

 Cheyne, who had had much experience in the fishery and 

 preparation, was published some years ago in a volume of 

 my " Technologist " : — 



There are many kinds of beche-de-mer found on coral 

 reefs in the Pacific Ocean ; but only ten of these varieties 

 are marketable in China, each being distinguished by well- 

 known names. As they vary in price from 6 to 35 Spanish 

 dollars per picul (133J lbs.), it becomes a matter of great 

 importance to obtain the superior qualities. The slug 

 when cured presents quite a different appearance to what it 

 does when caught ; and no person but one well acquainted 

 with the trade would be able to ascertain which were the 

 first quality, by comparing the raw slug with a cured one. 

 Again, the success of a voyage depends greatly on the 

 knowledge possessed by the person in charge of the locali- 

 ties in which the superior sorts are to be found, together 

 with much experience in the mode of fishing and curing 

 them. 



" The superior qualities are known by the following 

 names in the Sooloo and Manila markets : — i. Bangko- 

 lungan ; 2. Keeskeesan ; 3. Talepan ; 4. Munang ; each 

 presenting a different appearance, and found in different 

 depths of water on the reefs. 



" I. Bankolungan, when caught, is from 11 to 15 inches 

 in length, of an oval shape, brown on the back, and the 

 belly white and crusted with lime, with a row of teats on 

 each side the belly. It is hard, rigid, and scarcely possesses 

 any power of locomotion. It has, however, the power of 

 expanding and contracting itself at pleasure. This quality 



* Revue Maritime et Coloniale." Paris, March, 1866. 



