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Show 1 9 0 5 . ] CAPE VERDE MARINE FAUNA. 173 but a few isolated coral-colonies, comprising only three species. Wading is generally impossible on account of the steepness of the shore and the strength of the surf, which in more or less diminished strength reaches every part of the few bays. The native fishermen use nets, traps, and lines, principally the latter, the universal bait being raw fish. Ground-bait, also raw fish,-is used freely, being prepared by mastication and distributed about the lines by expectoration. " Coral" (Corallum rubrum) fishing was done in the past, but is wholly abandoned now, some of the merchants attributing this to the competition of the Japanese, others to the exorbitance of the Portuguese Customs. Text-fig. 22. But at St. Yincent all these fisheries have small following in comparison with the number of boats engaged in dredging for small coal lost overboard from steamers and lighters. The largest of the native boats, small and simply rigged cutters, engage in this exclusively, using three light dredges each. However unromantic old clinkers may be as a habitat, their richness in Polyzoa, Polychfeta, and small Crustacea is most beautiful, and the three largest of my Gephyreans were thus obtained. After a fortnight's very successful collecting in St. Yincent |