The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1876-04-07

cumbers Is performed by an elaborate
system Of organs. including mouth,
stomach, and intestines and for the
circulation through the body Of the nu-
tritive fluid or blood distinct system
II vessels is developed, the heart exist
ing ia the form Of tubular ring en-
circling the gnllet. The nervous system
exhibits a similar disposition Of parts,
and exists a. a central ring, from which
i've chief nervous cords originate 70
supply the various regions Of the body.
During the course II their develop
menf, the sea-cucumbers exhibit several
phases which rank among the most in
teresting parts Of their biography. AT
the moment Of its escape from the egg,
the young sea-cucumber presents no
likeness or affinity 10 its parent-form,
but appears as a somewhat worm-like
little creature, which swims vigorously
about in the water by means of fin-like
structures borne OF the sides of its body.
Soon, and after various changes in form,
its body becomes barrel-shaped and en-
circled by rings Of small vibratile fila
ments known as ella By the aid Of these
filaments the little Holothurian swims
freely by rotating swiftly upon it, own
axis; and when first discovered this en-
7 bryO was believed TO be q distinct ami
NAL form (AtlrIcxiGria), It's connection
with its parent being wholly unsuspect-
ed Within the barrel-shaped body the
rudiments Of tentacles soon begin 10 be
apparent, and the digestive organs be-
come similarly recognizable; while by
succeeding developments the sucker
Y like feet and other structures of the
adult are formed, and the embryo then
assumes the appearance of the full
crown sea-cucumber.
Viewed from an economic or COM
mercial standpoint, these animals may
fairly be said 10 rank with many food
fishes in givingemployment 10 hundreds
Of persons in their capture and prepar-
alton as articles of dietary, and even Of
luxury. In Chinese bills Of fare the sea-
cueumbers figure as very important
items, and the fishery for these animals
constitutes highly important branch
Of seafaring industry in the East. At
Naples, indeed, one singular species of
sea-cucumber (Hol0thEria tbblli0sd) Is
eaten and this form is also remarkable
for its association with a little fish,
which appears habitually To live para
sitically in the interior of the Holothu-
rian.
The most notable edible species of
the East is the trepang par excellence, or
H0l0thurta edlstis. This latter is the
species so largely fished for by the
fleets of junks which fish for the sea-
cucumbers in April and May in the seas
Of China and the Malay Archipelago.
They are chiefly caught by splitting or
happening, the fishermen, expert
through long experience, watching for
their prey a it creeps over the surface
Of submarine rocks and impaling it
with unerring aim on their long bam-
boo harpoons. They may also be OBJ
tanned by diving in deeper waters; and
the after-preparation If the sea-cucum-
bers i said 10 consist in their being
boiled. fattened with stones, dried in
the sun. and then smoked They are
finally packed in bags and shipped for
the market
The price Of trepang varies very
much according to scarcity or plentiful
ness of supply, the nature and value Of
different species, and the mode of pre-
paration. The value thus ranges from
- or less per hundred weight to t20
or more for the same quantity. An
average price in the Chinese markets
appears to be about 80 shillings for l25
pounds trepang.