S T . S E L E N A .
they cannot go they send the wife or child to perform a similar,
errand. Those men who. prefer exclusively to follow the noble
calling of fishermen number about eighty or ninety, but they are a
class who through years past have lived away from civilization; their
wives and children occupying small miserable huts, or nearly inaccessible
caves along the rocky shores, where they are altogether
far removed, partly through their occupation and partly through
their long-acquired habits of indolence and demoralization, from any
beneficial influences. The men themselves, although there are some
few exceptions, are for the most part satisfied to bring in just sufficient
fish as will afford food and obtain a supply of Cape wine
for a few days, when, after indulging' in excess in the latter, and
recovering from their half-stupefied state, they proceed out again for
the same purpose.
With the present materials it would be almost impossible to accomplish
anything to improve the fishery at St. Helena. I t needs, however,
but a small amount of capital, with suitable boats and tackle, and
good steady fishermen with European energy, to make it successful; so
great a prejudice exists, however, through the indolence of the present
fishermen, that I doubt if any resident would undertake its management
; and until it is done by the Government, it is scarcely likely
that a St. Helena fishery can become a source of profit by yielding
an article of commerce.
There are cod-banks close to the Island,* and in the year 1810,
it. is recorded th at codfish of 9J lhs. weight were caught in 111
fathoms, off Lemon Valley. Such fish are never seen now, neither
are the boats or men capable of going out to seek for them.
O r d e r A c a n t h o p t e r y git.
Fam. PercidcB.
Centropristis, Cuv.
*C. brasiliensis, Barnev.— The Deep-water Brown Mullet,
* The banks that have already been discovered are four in number, as follows:—New
Jjedge, about six miles S.S.W. of the Island, with soundings of 25 to 45 fathoms and a bottom
of rock and sand. Speery Ledge, about 4 miles nearer to the shore than the last, in 3^ or 4
fathoms water. Barn Ledge, about 2 miles off Prosperous Bay, in soundings of 4 to 16
fathoms j and Goodwin’s Ledge, in soundings of 50 to 80 fathoms, about 3 miles distant from
the shore on the leeward side of the Island. The first three positions are to windward, and
the weather often boisterous, so that the small fishing-boats now in use cannot remain long
near them in safety and consequently they are unfrequented.
asaaas;-