Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1860-08-02

the date Of his fete, the thirteenth. He is
entreated to implore from Almighty God
plentiful take of fish; and, as in the hight
Of the season the funny fetches only farth-
ing pound, it may be imagined what boon
it is to people eating little or no meat I'm
mense quantities are salted down, aud form
the winter provision: whilst considerable
portion is exported
This tonnara of Solanto (eight miles from
Palermo by land) is one of the best on the
coast of Sicily, from it's position, having a
large gulf before it, into which the funny
are sure to come. That of Signor Florio,
called ArineEa, is less productive; but it
has the advantage Of being nearer the capi-
tai, consequently there is less expense at
tending the fishery, and better prices are
obtained. The fish which remain unsold on
the beach of Solanto at the ringing of the
cave Maria, Cat sunset, are taken in boats
to Palermo. The voyage is about ten miles
by sea, and is sometimes attended with diff
ficulty and danger; the cape Zafarana hav-
ing to be doubled, where boats and cargo
together are sometimes lost When a large
haul is secured on Saturday morning,
quantities are sent off to Naples by the steam
er, which always leaves on that days This
tonnara formerly belonged to the kings of
Naples. The grandfather of his present
majesty often superintended it in person,
and amused himself for hours, sitting on the
shore, bargaining for his fish with the deal
ers. The average profit obtained may be
rcckoncd at a thousand year Sword fish
are sometimes taken in the net with the tun-
ny, or alone these are not dragged into the
boats with hooks, but carefully towed ashore
after them. Their flesh, which is much
superior to that Of the funny, is sold !; but
the roe is carefully preserved for the private
eating of the proprietor, as it is considered a
great luxury.
On the Goth of June, St. Peters Day.
the tunny-fshery ends. The nets that have
formed the chambers are cut, sink to the
bottom, and perish. The lcua, which is the
strongest part, as it has to support the whole
weight of the fish as it is raised through the
water at every successive haul, is carefully
laid up, and, with some slight repairs, serves
for the last scene Of existence to funny of
other years.
*The evenings of Saturday and Sunday are al
ways devoted by the family of the proprietor to
amusement, in which the fishermen and their
daughters allowed to have share. A dancing
master accompanied by two musicians, is brought
from Palermo who generally set US dancing inter
mlnabe Quadrlllcs; not the stiff kind Of walk now
indulged in by En- glish and French society, but a
really lively dance, composed of the figures of the
ordinary quadrillcs, Caledonans and Lancers mix
ed up together, he calling out in bad FrepGh each
evolution that had to be performed, and K ing o us
in continual movement. All the village girls dance
polka, waltz, and mazurl1a, as well as any lady at
Almack's, on the evenings in question. They were
allowed to come with their fathers and brothers to
see the dancing-the gentlemen of the household
choosing of them from time to time for part
ner; very. often several cf them called on to
make up the number foIsan English country dance.
instrument, to the music of which they dance the
Tarantclla.