The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-02-23
Tn. Sen and IL. Contribution. to mau.

house OF vicarious observation. M. w. II.
The Sen and 10. Contributions to Mau.
II would be impossible to say how many
OF tho human tnhabitauts of this earth draw
their sustonance from the ocean, or the indus
tries connected with its products; but 1t Is GER
tain that n large part Of our race would
have to perish but for tho countless forms OF
lifo which swarm in its depths. Mr.. p. l.. SIM
MoNDs. in a volume on The Commercial Products.
Of the Sea appleton h Coz. has brought to-
gether the statistics rs TO the.extent OF the vari-
Gus largo fisheries of the world. whether they
supply food or objects OF industrial value. and
has also given minute descriptions as to the
mode Of carrying them on, and preparing the
different substances obtained by them.
Tho importance Of the cod herring. mack
erel. and salmon fisheries is well known. since.
there are few parts Of the world to which these
fish. canned. salted dried. or smoked. have not.
penetrated. Yet even those who havo n generall
idea OF thoir extent would perhaps DO surprisqdl
to learn that in Tho neighborhood Of Newlound-
land alone about 1877 100000 goldfish arc taken
from the water every year that 1880. 600 worth
OF herring have been caught in Loeb Urn.
Scotland, In the course OF n single fortnight; Il
that from Halifax only there are often OK.
ported 10000 barrels OF mackcrel annually ::
that tho aggregate value Of the salmon fisheries
OF the British iscs for one year amounted to
81. 100000. Such sums become startling when
one reflects that each of these figures repre-
sents only n fraction of similar wealth drawn
from the salt water at the same time in other
parts OF the world. and often by othor races Of
men. Perhaps the lavish fertility Of the sea
may DO best shown by repeating the statement
OF the proprietor Of large lobster canning es-
tail foht nj nF
Lawrence:
The heavy gale Of August 1873. drove HOLSTERS
ashore within five mJes Of my packing houses than
could make Of duFing the whole sumner. They
formed row OF from TO i've feet deep and shouh
estimate them al an average Of IOOO ~ every two rods
Of shore
The canning establishments Of Nova Scotia
and New Brunswick use from three to five tons
OF Holsters a day. destroying every year about
10000 tons. At this rate 1t Is no wonder that
the size OF the Holsters taken has already begun
to decrease. and that there is danger OF ex-
hausting the supply.
There can be no doubt that great as arc tho
varieties OF food already furnished by the sea.
II still offers us many more that we have not
learned TO profit by. such as the horse mackerel
which with us is held in little estimation. but
on the shores OF the Mediterranean under the
name OF funny fish. is highly priced. and when
preserved in oil or sailed forms an important
article OF export. Several small and delicatcy
favored ilsh which abound on our shores and
which might be advantageously prepared in
several ways. are entirely neglected. although
the fact that an American sardino company Is
engaged in preserving menhaden or moss
bunkers in oil. like the sardines OF the French
coast. shows that attention is being turned in
this direction.
1t may be that prejudice. still moro than want
OF knowledge interfcrcs with our reaping the
full benefit Of the bounteous harvest Of the
seas. Few American palates would relish tho
preparations Of sea slugs which are among the
choicest dclicaces Of the Chinese table. Yet 50
great is the demand for them that the coral
reefs OF the Pacific Ocean and the Eastern seas
are the seats Of large fisheries for the trepang.
or beche-de-mer, rs II Is frequently called. In
deep water II is taken by diving; on the shoals
and mud banks the fishermen wade knee deep
In water. and whenever their feet come in con-
tact with the trepang It is picked up and thrown
into the boats which they drag behind them.
Having the shape and general appearance OF q
largo prlckly cucumber. excel t for It's color.
which is black. whitsh- brown. or red. the ire
pang spends its sluggish existence in cropping
about at the bottom Of tho water. where 1t feeds
on sea weed and mollusks. When taken II ID
split open. cleaned. and dried. and becomes Of
the consistency OF india rubber In this state 1t
is sold. and when minced down into asort Of
thick soup it Is greatly enjoyed. even BY tho
European settlers at Mnniln.
In some places tho fcsh OF the cutie fish is
considered delicaay. II is eaten on parts Of
the Mediterranean coast. aud at Tunis there Is
n regular trade in octopod.a or polypi. In deei
water the fishermen lower earthcn Jars. strung
together. 10 the bottom Of the sea- aud wnen
after some hours. they are drawn up again tlp
polypi are found 10 hayo introduced them
selves into the Jars. In shallow wafer earthcp
drain pipes are laid end . end. frequently foI
more than half a mile together. AMI into thcsG
also the polypi squeeze Themselves. Or arti-
fetal pools are formed along the shorc. and u,
| the retreat Of the lido the captured cattle ash
arostrung in punches 4 ility each 10y the natives
who frequently secure eight ortcn such buGchF
In n day. Besides its flesh the cutie fish fur
nishes two valuable articles 10 commercially
tie FISH bone and the ink bug from which ii OBJ
tanned the sepia color used by artists.
| In Norway. whore fish Is prepared with mucl
ingenuity in many ways. they make -four o
| tho flesh Of the fish ground to powder. 1t u
used instead OF rice and potatoes aud IA.
biscuits made from 1t are said to De eNtremcil
nutritious.
But perhaps the most curious fishery Of al
To our apprehension would be that for Nh
pRlolo. which is carried on among the FIJI
Islands and in some other parts Of the soutl
| Pacific Ocean. Tho paoo are small worm
! three or four inches long. and the bignoss OF
fine straw. They appear every year for tw'
days in October and November. at the las
quarter OF the moon. and are never seen NJ an!
other time. rising to the surface at early dawn
and sinking again in few hours ns the SUI
becomes powerful. Thoy swim with snake
like motion. twisting about the fingers OF tn
natives. who plunge their hands into the wato
10 know the exact moment Of tho worms
arrival. They appear in such numbers rs Il
cover the sea. ana white object held lev
inches beneath the surface cannot bo Dustin
guished. Tho natives are thrown into grca
excitement during the short time that they re-
main in sight catching them in nets and II
prettily-madr baskets As soon ne the palol
have gone, the fishermen return to shore wher
they feast upon tho dainty morscls raw. o
bake them m leaves of the bread fruit tree IN,
send them rs gifts to friends in less fHyorc
neighborhoods.
The preparation OF isinglass, from the air O
swimming hlHdlors of different fish. furnishc
employment to large numbers Of people. TIL