New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-08-29
Week Abroad News of Developments in Europe
called, arc varied In shape and compact
In texture, and of very good quality.
Tunny Industry Prospecting

funny Industry Prospecting
Another industry which has just
got on its feet is funny fishing, which
also is backed by Italian fnanciers.
The last season probably has been the
most successful one in the history OF
this industry, owing to the modern
methods used in unloading and rcshlp-
ming the fish. Three depots have now
been opened, and each has its fishing
fleet
OF course the European funny Is
never ms largo as those caught on tho
Pacific Coast Of the United States,
where tho usual size Is ten feet and
the weight 900 pounds. The Llblan
funny is generally six feet IN length
and weighs about 600 pounds. In old
Roman times funny generally was
sailed as soon as caught and then
brought to Rome. Now the funny is
kept in ice and sold in Rome in a
fresh state. unlike the Sicilian funny,
which is always cured in oil and sent
abroad If Tripoli were turned over
to the Arabs this industry would be
lost to Italy, as naturally the boats
and warehouses would be taken over
by the Arab sailors, now employed by
the Italian company, although its d.
rectors are Arabs
Oil Possibility
Besides these industries there is
now q possibility that petroleum will
be found; in fact, from experiments
undertaken in small way, it is be-
licved that an equal if not a greater
quantity will be found than in Egypt,
where 100000 tons was produced in
1918. AS the soil in certain parts OF
Libia is similar to that district in
Egypt, where the oil wells were dis
covered, and as the soundings made
lead experts to think that there is a
good supply Of oil under the soil of
Tripolitana, there is now project
to start work in the valley of Gefara,
north of Garian.
In Cirenaica, south Of Gebel Aedar,
is lacking, owing to the unsettled state
of the country. In an effort to
straighten out matters care has been
taken in the selection of the new
civil Governor. The choice has faller
on Comm Mercatelli, formerly
ltaly's diplomatic agent to the Rcpub-
lie of Georgia, a man with great
deal Of experience and quite different
from his predecessor, who managed to
rub the Arabs the wrong way. Although
it was during his term that they We're
given a constitution, with separate
Parliament, he mudded things so that
even with all these extraordinary con-
cessons the Arabs are more dissatis-
fed than before.
Probably they misunderstood the
Italian policy Of treating them as
brothers. Whatever the reason, the
situation in Tripolitania is delicate
one. There are two parties-those who
side with the Italians, but who have a
grievance IF some sort, and the ma
jority, who side with the Rebel chief
Hawaiian Scetini, who calls himself
King of Misurata.
Matters, while not serious, might be-
come SO were things allowed to drift
along indifferently. For example, al
though the Arabs are supposed to have
constitution, no effort has been
made to put it into force. The great
drawback, from an Italian point OF
view, has been the small garrison al
lowed for the defense of the colony
During the war, when Rawadan Sect
n seized the Oasis of Misurata and
proclaimed himself King and owner of
the treasure hidden there by the Turks
when they left in 1912, there were not
enough soldiers to GUST him, and there
ne remains to-day. What they have
been unable to do by force the authori-
ties have tried to accomplish by arb-
tration, but the rebel is obdurate.
Still, if the present Governor is d
clever man matters may be smoothed
out end conditions in the colony I'M
proved.