The New York herald., 1873-12-08

Ancient
centuries, and it easily be understood that the
existing state OF affairs created much dissatisac-
ton. With the view to meet the difficulty the gov
ernment has worked out new and complete code
whereby Italian fisheries VIII IN future be ruled
Having thus given a brief outline OF the main
the detail or
The statistics above alluded to tend to show that,
at the close OF 1862 there were engaged In coral
disnng 433 boats, aggregatng 3,7Sl TONS viz. -
Boats. Tons.
Province OF Genoa. 40 1888
Province Of Naples. es.................... s29 3,ssl
Province OF La Maddalena. 10 65
Province OF Messina. II
But as in the case already referred to- the figures
are much below the present reality. From inquiries
which the Minister has caused TO be made through
other channels 1t appears that Legh0rn, Carlo
forto Alghero and other districts owned, last year,
nearly twice the number OF boats above stated.
sos boats fishing on the coast of Italy, and that l2S
boats were engaged in foreign waters. Operations
on the Italian coast are mainly confined to the
vicinity OF Alghero Carloiorto and La Maddalena; !;
but large number OF boats may be found near the
Der boats frequent coast OF Sicily near MAJ
zare and Syracuse and few others operate on
stefano The boass shinS IN foreign n waters 90 to
the coast OF Corsica near Bastla and BOnilacio; I;
but the principal operations take place on the
coast OF Africa The chief place OF rendezvous Of
coral fishers is at La Gale, seaport on the Al
gerian coast, in the province Of Constantine.
The official reports of the Italian government es
TOTAL QUANTITY OF ROUGH CORAL
which is annually brought up from the bottom OF
the sea to average q weight OF about 100000
pounds, and that this quantity represents value
OF ST. 10000. But OF the grand total there is only
pounds, which is really OF superior quality,
and which, therefore, is much sought by
OF the coral finds market under the denomination
OF 'merchantable quality and which, after being
cleaned and worked up for The use Of the trade, Is
classed out according to color.
There is considerable number Of Italian boats
which sal under the protection Of the French flag;
nevertheless the boats are owned and manned ex-
cluslvey by natives OF Italy, The only nationality
which completes with Italy is Spain. The spaniards
number conflne their operations to the eastern
coast Of the Baearc Islands, and the Others oper-
ate in the vicinity Of the Cape Verde Islands. The
CORAL CAUGHT BY SPANIARDS
Is roughly estimated at 25 900 POUNDS per annum,
representing a value OF about 100000. The quail
obtained in Algerian waters occasionally few
Spanish coral boats may be seen operating in
The foregoing statement is substantially con.
frmed by reports which have been transmitted to
the government by the Board OF the Chambers OF
Commerce OF Leghorn and 81 Naples, as well as the
municipal authorities OF Tore del Greco. All
these reports agree on another point, namely-in
saying that the general situation OF the fisheries
IS far rom being satisfactory Indeed, fears are
expressed that the existence OF coral fishing Is
gravely menaced. The iears are mainly grounded
on the growing deficiency in the number or we'll
trained hands and the consequent difficulty in OBJ
tanning the requisite contingent wnerewith TO
ASHORE CORAL INDUSTRY
is prosperous. The produce OF the fisheries affords
constant employment to up ards OF 5000 persons,
who are throughout the year engaged in working
up the raw material. The persons thus employed
about so workshops or factories. Tore de Greco
takes the lead IN the number OF factories, as 1t
are about 40 establishments at Tore del Greco.
employing an aggregate OF 200 persons; but only
aoout 400 males are among the number, all the
rest being females.
In the rural districts OF the province OF Genoa
there are between 10000 and 1900 men, women
and children, who work periodically at coral. The
peasantry seeks rest rom the fatigues OF outdoor
work, and employs the intermediate time use-
full labor at home. Thus the coral industry affords
two!old advantages, inasmuch 1t furnishes
agreeable and profitable employment TO the female
portion Of the rural districts and gives the agri-
Culturst an opportunity OF alternating occupations
IN the field with other means OF gaining a hvell-
hood. Tie
TOTAL VALUE OF CORAL.
when worked up or the use OF the trade, Is esti-
mated TO amount to nearly 10000 Only a very
small quantity inds direct sale in Italy More
than nine-tenths OF the entire produce is exported
to foreign markets. The principal outlet is found
IN Russia, and the next important customers come
from the markets oil British India and Cuina.
Very little goes direct to the United States, the
demand being supplied through Intermediates in
Paris and by purchases made by American travel
lers. though mucn that they buy is bogus
Neapoltans predominant among the fishermen,
Tore del Greco, as already remarked, furnishing
the largest contingent. The reputation OF the men
engaged in the trade is not entirely without taint.
"fou must be either rogue or vagabond to be
become almost pr0verblal. For long period
the Grand Duke OF Tuscany was In the habit Of
sending c0nvlcts on board coral fishing boats, and
TINS TACT goes lar to explain the saying alluded to.
The conduct oil the men has not always been exem.
plary, su the saying must not be taken too liter
ally. Because Of the hard lie, connected with
coral fishing, 1t seems to have been thought that
man would submit to it only alter having failed IN
all other attempts TO get an honest living.
excessively
$50 TO 500 forming the maximum amount OF wages
paid to man Tor the duration OF a season, cover
ing nearly six months. But they are not numerous
who earn the maximum rate OF wages most OF the
men receive no more than from $40 to $50 lor the
season.
Tne food or victuals
ON BOARD THE BOATS
are in Keeping with the low rate OF wares. Bis
cults Il. e. the socalled gdlettd) and water consti-
tute almost the only stock OF provisions. These
are at the disposal OF the men during night and
day. In the evening all hands partake OF plate
OF macaron plainly cooked. Some OF the padyoni
furnish onions. but for the most part the sailors
are forced TO pay out OF their wages for such lux
uries as onions or any kind OF fruit. Meat forms no
part OF the menu except on two occasions,
namely August Is and on the Fete Dieu Corpus
Christl. Wine is entirely unknown. With this
scanty fare, ana considering the miserable pay,
there Is, on the other hand, an excessive amount
OF work exacted, and the fatipues connected
Herewith are prodigious. Add to this that the
work goes on under a burning African sun and we
Is that must be on his last
resources to lead life so irksome and little
HuHeTduNe. Iuuteu, lb seems almost Incredible
that, under the circumstances, SO much work can
be accomplished. The biscuits, though OF good
quality, are simply hard dried bread. II is no
exaggeratlon TO say that the coral fisher Is almost
constantly eating. On passing boat you see the
men at all times with biscuits In hand or mouth;
aud they must eat constantly to gain SUFFICIENT
nutriment IRON such diet.
Fisaing is carried on day and night, SIX hours
rest being allowed alternately to regain strength.
The intervals are very short; work hardly ceases
between August Is and the first week OF Advent
After that period the state OF the weather renders
IL dlfficult TO remain outside. The boats come to
port during the season only Tor the purpose OF re-
penishng the stock OF provisions and 70 obtain
fresh water.
Although coral fishing Ia carried on to large ex-
tent In French water along the Algerian coast, yet
no french subjects engage In the business IL Is
wen understood that French sailors refuse TO take
part IN coral fishing. Frencbmen exact superior
ncurisblnent, demand higher wages, and are un-
Wiling 10 lead labor0us lives. THIS il the expana-
ZION given why Frenchmen have abandoned coral
nshng. Nevertheless, politicians VIII tell you that
ADOncr later the naheru nnnaIion