Page:The Zoologist, 4th series, vol 1 (1897).djvu/314

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THE ZOOLOGIST.

EDITORIAL GLEANINGS.


In the 'Annali del Museo Civico di Storia Naturale di Genova," Ser. 2a, vol. xvii. (xxxvii), under the well-known title "Viaggio di Leonardo Fea," which has headed very many zoological contributions by different specialists during recent years, is found a "Riassunto Generale dei Risultati Zoologici" by the traveller and collector himself. Fea made some most extensive zoological collections, embracing many orders, in Upper Burma, and these, under the energetic supervision of Dr. Gestro, have been, with the excellent method pursued by the institution over which he presides, distributed for identification amongst well-known specialists. This has resulted in the publication of ninety-five different special memoirs, and three others which partially refer to the zoological spoils of this expedition. The present summary forms in its separate condition a most interesting volume, in which Signor Fea has given to zoologists the results of a naturalist's observations and impressions made in a most productive region. We have placed our copy by the side of the Rev. F. Mason's early work on the Biology of Tenasserira and Burma, published at Maulmain in 1852.


In the 'Bulletin de la Société Nationale d'Acclimatation de France' for April are some interesting notes on the "Fish-oil" industry of Japan, by Daniel Bellet. Sea-fishing affords great employment to the Japanese. A French consul has recently estimated that no less than 3,300,000 individuals are engaged in the vocation, and these figures are apparently accurate from the statistics afforded by other documents. There are 710,610 fishermen, each of whom is the head of a family; 186,517 households salt fish or prepare marine manure; 1,592,690 persons gather seaweed; and 748,231 occupy themselves as under-salters, or with other work connected with the industry. The proceeds of these fisheries are valued at thirteen millions of yens—a yen is nominally a dollar or a little less than five francs, though actually it is a little less than three francs—including the fish-oil, but not counting the secondary productions. The Japanese thus largely practise an industry well known in Europe, and Herrings, Sardines, Whitings, Haddocks, Skates, Congers, Tunnies, and Shads are used for the purpose. In the same 'Bulletin' for March we read that M. Edouard Foa, the well-known traveller, has sent home from Central Africa a tube containing specimens of the Tsetse Fly in a dry condition, which will doubtless prove