144 
THE MEDITERRANEAN NATURALIST 
giving a considerable impetus to trade among t m ' 
countries and islands of the Central a ‘ editor raver- n. ; 
and at the same time have can ed public atten- j 
tion to be directed to a region that had hithoito j 
been a terra incognito to all but those wi:o lived 
in its immediate vicinit. y 
The principal centre of the trade at the pro- nt- j 
time is Lampedusa, a'n island which is situated j 
on the edge of a submarine plateau that extends 
for a distance of about 60 miles in an ^easterly , 
direction from the coast of Tunis, and which j 
after trending to the north, conn.; . itself with 
Sicily by means of a submarine ridge known as t : 
“Adventure Bank.” 
Viewed from the sea on its eastern side, t ie j 
island presents an undulating and low lying oa t- 
line which is much broken up by numerous 
small bays and creeks, none of wdiicb, bo wen 
are sufficiently protected to serve as safe anchoj 
ages for weather bound vessels. 
Falling back from the shore in gentle declivit : 
that are intersected by numerous i\ at 
valleys, the land gradually rises towards the 
north till it reaches the height of about 300 feet 
above the sea level, after which it breaks off j 
abruptly and forms along the no diem shore a ' 
line of precipitous cliffs that descend sheer to tin 
water’s edge. These cliffs continue in n wester) 
direction towards West Cape, a short distance 
beyond which they break off abruptly at the mouth 
of a deep and narrow valley. 
On the opposite side of the valley mouth the 
strata again rise, and a similar, though less pre- 
cipitous coast-line prevails as far as the detached 
rock which is known as Babbit Island. 
The numerous fertile valleys and gorges that 
abut on the shore, impart to it a diversified not 
to say picturesque aspect, and tend to tone down 
the harsher features of the landscape of the inte- 
rior, which owing to the dearth of soil and the 
tropical conditions of climate render themselves 
so painfully apparent upon a first acquaintance. It 
has been computed that the island contains about 
1200 Maltese salms of land of agricultural value, 
of which not more than 40 salms were cultivated 
prior to the survey that was made in the early ; 
part of the present century. Of these itwasascer- j 
tained that 230 salms might readily be converted | 
into first rate soil, 270 salms were specially adapted 
to the growth of forage, vines etc., and the remain- 
ing 700 salms would have served as excellent 
pasture grounds. 
At the baginning of the present century the 
island was uninhabited, and as it was thought 
that the French might take possession of it for 
strategetic purposes, the British Authorities were 
appealed to and were induced to take it over. 
It was accordingly place in their hands and a 
small colony of Maltese was sent over to it, to- 
gether with a detachment of soldiers for its pro- 
tection. The sojourn of the colonists was of but 
brief duration ; they all shortly afterwards returned 
to Malta, and in LSI 4 the island was again entirely 
abandoned. 
The Italians then took possession, and under 
their care the resources of the island have been 
largely developed. 
It is now not only a valuable emporium, but it 
is also the centre of one of the most thriving 
industries of the Central Mediterranean, and 
supports .a population of upwards of one thousand, 
the majority of whom gain their livelihood by 
agriculture and trading. 
In the summer season, however, these numbers 
are considerably augmented by foreigners who 
come for the purpose of fishing for sponges on the 
banks in the vicinity of the island. 
It was in the year 1837 that the first evidences 
of the existence of the sponge beds were discovered. 
An Italian fisherman while trawling off the coast 
struck one of the beds, and further researches 
revealed to him the fact that considerable areas of 
the plateau were covered with similar deposits the 
sponges of which were of a much finer quality 
than those found in the neighbouring Gulf of 
Gabes, and other Tunisian sponge fishing grounds. 
He at once communicated his discovery to the 
Italian Authorities, and from them he obtained 
a permit to work the beds. The news had, however, 
in the meantine leaked out, and upon arriving at 
the fishing grounds he found a score of Greek 
boats at work on his preserves. The dispersal of 
these led to further discoveries, and an extensive 
and profitable industry was thus established in the 
locality. 
