Evening journal., 1898-10-07
FnsIHING rN rTAIlY.

OF all the sports of Europe fire fish
ing, as it is locally called, is surely one
CT tine most picturesque. 1t is from one
point OF view something more than a
sport, ais it affords a means of liveh-
hood during a part Of the year for a
portion of the population Of every viii
lagea.Cng the Riveria. The start
is made from the haIibor in perfect
darkness. though this fact troubles the
natives very little, for the only light
ucually visible in an italian village al
ter 8 O'clock is that of an osteuia. This
gradually dwindies away in the dis
tance. and the boat giidcs silently on
leaving a Vivid green patch wherever
the oars dip. The toroh,is only lighted
when the rocks are reached and the
fishing begins in earnest. It makes a
very quaint picture as the smoky tire
Of the torch streams out fitfully, ir-
radiating the eager face and the poised
haTpoon Of the fishermen, illuminating
part of the rock, which rises perhaps
300 feet straight cut Of the water, while
here and there it reveals a black pine
trunk. with a crown OF dark green, and
makes the shadows of the bOatmen
seem almost to be climbing the preci-
pice as it flares and flick trs. The oars
men must be very "capace," as the
boat has to thread in and out to pass
over sunRen rocks, and explore the tar
black caverns made by the overhang-
ing cliff. The great drawback CT fire
fishing. from the fisherman's point OF
view, is the expense Of naelng his har-
poon repaired, which is necessary al
most every other night, as the teeth are
constantly turned and blunted by this
rocks.
Fire fishing is not entirely without
drawbacks. When a "diavolinO," or
small devil FISH, for instance, is broughI
hurriedly into the beat. one is rousec
with unpleasant haste from contem-
p.ating the beauties Of the scene to fint
ones self literally between the devi
and the deep sea. The most revolving
fish. and the one which is, perhaps
caught most often, is the octupus. H
looks up at one with a supercilious ex
preseicn in his two projecting eyes
which changes to surprise and indigna
tion when he finds himself deposited il
The boat, Cccasionally-fOr the Italian
are fond OF practical jokes-in the lai
Of the unfortunate stranger, who is, il
- consequence, not seldom Obliged Z
nurse the monsuosity for some con
siderable time, as the octopus is de
termlned creature, with a strong vii
a, of his own, and it is his habit to hOl
On with all the strength Of his eigh
, legs to amy object that may have tn
q lin fortune, I hardly know whether Z
. say to please OF displease him. tn
, dread chat always haunted me out fish
ing almost spoiled my enjoyment. Th
loarsmen stand and push when rowin.
and every now and then they stop
- hand some wood to the harpooner
v keep the torch alive. On one occasio
n an octopus instead Of the wood wa
= handed out in the darkness, and ma
II row,y escaped his tender embrace; a
ter that l was never quite hapI
when l had my back 10 the oarsma,
The octopus has an original habit
G leaving his native element and talar
excursions up the rocks every now al
le then when amy unaccustomed moi
o. rouses his curiosity. He is not mfr
u qucntiy captured while on these eNcu
le sions, and if he is not an octopus OF Z
portly a person is imms sd.ateiy eaten
his captor. The Italians are very for
rs oR eating fish literally alive. It is ir
Sc quent and far from appetizing sight
y. see a fish disappear slowly, struggAl
y, energedeaily, like worm that is TAX
by bird.-Badminton Magazine.