The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1878-11-30
Discovery of New Coral Beds in the Med.
fterranean-.-WhO Shall Fish Them.

Our correspondent in Rome writes:
Italy is finding in many ways that her
interests in the Mediterranean are on
the increase, and that, as they widen
and enlarge, they may any day conflict
with those of other Mediterranean pow
ers, particularly France. A case in
point has just arisen, and in the pres
ent temper of the Italians, who, to Judge
from their ultra-liberal journals, seem
to suspect that there is something like
a combination-not to say conspiracy
to lower their prestige in their own
waters, it will be well if the interest in
question does not drag them into a
"dit1iculty" with their French neigh
Dor. In 1875 a coral bed was discov-
cred on the southwest coast of Sicily,
and the Neapolitan fishers, whose port
is at Tore del Greco and their fishing
ground in Algerian waters, betook
themselves to the newly-found bed
nearer home. But the coral proved of
inferior quality, so for the next two
years they returned to their old ground
on the Algerian coast Within the past
year, however, new and very valuable
coral bed was discovered, again on the
southwest coast of Sicily, between Sci
acca and Porto Empedocle, and once
more the NeapOlitan fishers made for
the new find, as the coral was not only
very abundant but of excellent quality.
The Algerian ground was nearly de-
serted, even by the French fishers, who,
mingling with the Neapolitans and
Sicilians, raised the fleet to a total of
one thousand boats. The Sicilian fish
ers, from the proximity of the new bed
to their own coast, claimed right of
preference over the Neapolitans, al
though the bed in question lay beyond
the limit of the sea-line within which
their claim would have been valid. A
quarrel, ending in bloodshed, would
have ensued, and so the Minister of
Marine sent ship of war to the place
to enforce the regulation that on certain
days of the week the Sicilians should
have the right of fishing, and on certain
other days the Neapolitans. Matters
seemed amicably arranged, when, as |
have said, the French fishers appeared,
and, not being subject to Italian juris-
diction, they worked every day and at
their own convenience. Then the Ne
apolitans protested against this every
day intrusion, and through Signor della
Rocca, deputy to the Italian Chamber,
they appealed to the Minister of Ma
rine. After good deal of urgency,
Signor de la Rocca obtained a hearing
for them, and it was henceforward ar
ranged that the fisheries should be free
to Neapolitan, Sicilian and French
boats alike for every day of the week
and the commander of the war ship was
instructed to see that this was done.
Thus the special Neapolitan grievance
and the quarrel likely to ensue from it
was set at rest, and the fishers left to
reap the fruits of their labor as best
they might. The Italians, however, are
again dissatisfied, and it would appear
justly so. Their boats--Neapolitan
and Sicilian alike-when they repair to
the Algerian coral beds, are made to
pay tax, even when the bed is beyond
the Algerian sea-line, of 400 francs per
boat; whereas the French boats when
fishing on the Siclian beds and in
Sicilian waters pay nothing. The ques-
ton is-either. the French Government
must exempt the Italian fishers from
the impost or allow the Italian Govern
ment to subject the French fishers to a
similar tax. And an unpleasant ques-
ton it has become. Meanwhile the
coral fishery between Sciacca and Porto
Empedocle is reported excellent. One
coral merchant of Tore del Greco, who