Coral, although not a precious stone, has been largely used in jewelry,
and as some of this beautiful substance is very valuable, a few words
will not come amiss.
Red or precious coral is the work of a family of zoöphytes which live
mostly in cavities of rock in the sea.
These polyps build their homes at a depth of two to seven hundred feet
under the surface of the sea, and although the single groups of coral
are sometimes several feet long, the usual size is about twelve inches
high, and about one inch at the thickest part of any single branch.
Coral is usually red, and rarely white or black, while the pale
rose-pink is the most esteemed color.
Coral is mostly found at Calle, off the coast of Africa, but also on
the coasts of Tunis, Algiers, Corsica, Barbary, Majorca, and Minorca.
Coral fishing-vessels leave Italy the beginning of March and return
from the African coast in October; at one time as many as four hundred
vessels were engaged in this industry.