The New York herald., 1873-12-08

OF admonishng them. The regulations forbid any
cruel treatment but how often he strikes MS men
there IL no record. IL Is not unusual that In cases
where men are iatigued and unit to resume WORK
the Captain throws buckets oil cold water over the
heated skin OF the sailor. Knives are strictly
lnterdcted, yet coral fishing is not without its
example OF CRIME. The health OF the men, more,
over. is often neglected, and health Is more needeo
In coral fishing tnan anywhere else. The military
and maritime hospitals are open to the men the
Captain II held TO defray the expense But that Is
often the reason why he does not think the men
sick enough to neei the hospital or If he consents
TO their going, he deducts the expenses rom the
hard-earned wages.
are probably approximately correct In regard TO
the quantity OF annually brought to the surface
The owners OF the boats do not, OF course. ike 10
tell you what their enterprise produces Every
evening, on returning from sea, the boss OF each
boat delivers up TO the owner the produce OF the
days labor. The larger boats, as already stated,
do not return to port under is or 20 days; some
times they stay out longer. After being dried and
sorted the coral is put INTO cases ana brought to
Italian ports The produce OF the African coast ls
verified by the Italian Consul, and the cases sealed
by him. lie Is therefore the only person who has
the cnance OF forming correct judgment OF the
actual value OF the fsheres and the records
OF the Consulate are those BY which the Gus
tom House regulate their returns. IL de-
pends, to great extent, on the ability
OF captain as well the chances or wind
and and weatner 1v now much eaen boat produces IL
mgs OF q boat amounted to $4,500. The first out
lay for boat amounts TO only 5000; therefore, II
the estimate proved correct, the profits would ap-
pear enormous Yet, on inquiry, 1T is found that
these profits are realized but only as exceptions.
TO make coral fishing profitable each boat must
take on the average about three pounds per diem;
there are $50 working days less or 90 which prove
blank owing to bad weather or TO time expended
on repairs. A boat o. Is or 16 tons requires crew
OF ~ or IA men, involving an expenditure OF $4,000
or $4,000 at the utmost Three pounds OF coral
a. a. the average 'i rate 'sS Of nps $40 per pound,
sum OF $4,000. But then 1t has been
shown that 70 procure the requisite capital the
intercessiOn OF money lenders and usurers Is nec-
essary and these absorb large portion OF the
profits, and therefore little or nothing accrues to
the fishermen or even the Captain OF a boat. How
ever that may be, the foregoing illustrates sum-
ctently that American capital might be proftaby
invested by encouraging coral fishing on the spot
rather than being dependent Tor supply on
Partisan commission houses and paying four times
the original cost and then not always getting the
genuine article.
THE SALE OF CORAL.
The regulations are absolutely prOhibit0ry to
sailors, captains or divers to sell any coral. Per.
sons found purchasing coral without consent Of
the owners OF boats are liable to prosecution.
Nevertheless, much fraud exists. 1t Is asserted that
sailors nave their earlaps pierced and that the
holes are so large as to hide good sized piece
OF coral From time to time these pieces are lost
but speedily replaced by others. The inference is
and, on going ashore glass OF liquor or some other
luxury Is generally paid for by these ornaments
The difficulty in fixing the quantity OF coral
applies Likewise to quality, owing to the great
three distinct heads:-First, the dead coral, SO
called because 1t consists OF the roots broken or
the rocks winch hold the coral. The roots are
generally covered with stony deposits, perforated,
not unlike sponge, and designated by the word
"terrailles.n The value is as low so cents to 81
per pound, but reaches sometimes So or 81, rarely
more. Second there Is the black coral. THIS
category is entirely distinct 1t is found only in
working the raw material, in order to see whether
the black color penetrates deep enough. This
species is worth from 81 to So per pound. Thirdly
coral en- cGaSso lin boxes). This Is the real coral
brought into commerce. Its price varies IRON IS
to SIS pound according to appreciation. the color
and the form OF the pieces. TO this may be added
fourth class, picked out OF the latter. But there
Is only very little OF It, indeed. Its value reaches
sometimes $40 to $50 per pound. All Is sold by
weight. Rose color is the most expensive. and
then goes down TO deep carmne, degenerating
into q brick color.
THE NATURE OF CORAL
mas long been mystery and continued to be so up
to the last century 1t was net that naturalsts of
Olden and modern times had failed TO endeavor to
explain its 0rigin but their efforts have neces-
sarily been based on hypotheses of more less
tanciful nature. Even the head OF the Medusa
figures in fable that describes coral as being col
ored by blood which had petriying powers. The
real discoveries were only developed in the past
century, and Reaumur, who, If not otherwise
known tnan by the thermometer bearing his name,
has largely contributed to our present knowledge
OF the plant,