New Orleans daily crescent., 1860-07-02
THE TREPANG FISHERY.

The trepang, known to the scientific world by
the name of the 'sholothura, y is familiar to Us
coinmoner m0rtals under the title of sea cucumber
It owes this name to its peculiar shape, which re-
senbes that Of our garden escnlent but it really
an animal, and, more surprising still, belongs to
the same family az the asteroids and the sea-urchin.
form elongated rather pointed at the posterior
extremity while q bunch Of feathery fentacles
surrounds the orifce which represents the mouth.
The affinity with the asteroids Is, however, rendered
palpable BY the presence Of suckers either side
of the body by whose aid tile sea-cucumber pro-
grasses. although 1t also helps itself along by al-
ternate dilatation and contraction OF tile body after
tic fashion OF the worms.
The great European sea cucumber performs very
strange vagaries as regards its personal appear
anee. At one moment, and while quiet, it is only
a foot long but all at once becomes thrice that
length. Presently, though, It will contract itself
in the CENTER afer the shape of hour glass, OF
pub itself out in a gobular form. But the most
astounding thing connected with the hoiothuria is
that, under the influence of terror, (the only inI-
enee to which it appears susceptibility ii disenl-
bowels itself without any copunction, In the same
way as the britlestar when alarmed, casts off its
arms. Many gourmand, suffering from tile pangs
of indigest0n; would, doubt not, be only too
glad to initiate the sea-cucumber.
According to Sir j. Dalzeil, the parts thrown off
are gradually regenerated. in cases where the
disenboweling process has been so perfectly
effected that only an empty sac remains behind.
Sea cucnmbers have been repeatedly captured, in
which the internal parts more Or less missing
process
was going ON In these.
When we reflect ON this facility of throwing off
the ntestines, II ID the more remarkable that the
pineapple holothuria should complacently endure
tho presence of strange parasite. This ID a fish
about six inches in length, and which several natu
ralists have pretty frequently found in the holothu-
ria. This impudent fellow. who Is said to be short
sighted aud to shun the light, slips into the mouth
| Of the great sea-cucumber aud, as the latter's
stomach Is too small for its reception it tears the
/ aiimentafy duet asunder and quarters itself with.
out ceremony between the inteHtines and the exter
nal coats. Two such fish have been found together
In single hoIothura which did not, however, APP
| pear TO be Ia the slightest way put about by tic
presence Of these nnbidden guests.
4 Tie sea-cucumhers possess considerable Yalue
for that nation which praemnently feeds on nasty
and olags things. They are captured BY millions
IN the Indian ocean, and carried to The markets o.
China and Cochia-China under the name Of ire
pans. Thousands of urG0s are annually eanippet
in The ports Of the Sunda Islands, which, with tilt
assistance OF the western monsoon, exalnine ths
ocean between the Moluceas, the Philippines and
the Carolines sail up the northern coast of New
Holland, eventually returning home BY the same
route, under the speedy Influences of the eastern
monsoon. ghe bays of this inliospitablo country
inhabited by only a few llalEstarved natives, arr
animated during the several months of tae yeai
by the presence Of the trepang fishers. The bes
" description can find Ii In Dumont a 'Uryiile'
= Voyage ak Pol Sad. and frem his pages
transfer tle following account OF the mode of pre-
pairing the trepang
Dnring my excursion scund Rafles Bav.
noticed here and thore low walls, forming sInal
circle. The meaning nf this arcetinn remained
perfect enigma fer me until the Malay fishermen
arrived. Their pgaes had scarcely cast anchor
ere they landed. without ans loss of time, larg
ron kettles, about three feet in diameter. whlcl