Cephalopods, etc., as Food. 



117 



is as indigestible and innutritious as it is certainly tough 

 and uninviting. 



Cephalopods are eaten at the present day on many 

 parts of the Mediterranean coast. Mr. Vice-Consul Green, 

 in a recent report, furnishes some novel and interesting 

 particulars as to the fishing and trade in cephalopods in 

 the Tunis waters. Octopodia and polypi are the trade 

 names under which these cephalopods are known in the 

 Levant and Greek markets, where they are solely im- 

 ported for consumption during Lent, the orthodox Church 

 not including them in the prohibition against the use of 

 fish in seasons of religious abstinence. They prefer 

 rocky shallows, and visit those waters, coming from the 

 open sea, in the months of January, February, and 

 March. A considerable number of octopodia, however, 

 remain permanently near the shores ; but it has been 

 observed that when their fry, locally called " muschi," are 

 numerous from the month of June to August, the fishing 

 of the coming season is sure to be abundant, whilst the 

 reverse is the case if they appear in numbers in November 

 and December. In a good season the several villages on 

 the island of Karkenah supply about 3000 cwts., and the 

 Jubah waters a third part of this quantity. In an average 

 year the yield will be under 2000 cwts., and in one of 

 scarcity 1000 cwts. On the shores from the village of 

 Luesa to that of Chenies, in the Gulf of Khabs, the natives 

 collect from four to five cwts. of cuttle-fish a day during 

 the season ; but this supply generally serves for the con- 

 sumption of the regency. The remaining coast and islands 

 may be calculated to furnish a minimum of 650 to 700 cwts. 

 of dried molluscs. 



The Tunisian Government claims a third of all the 

 polypi fished upon its coast. The selling price varies con- 



