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Coral Divers and Diving Bell

by order of Charles to prove the possi- These remarkable inventions for enability of the thing, and in others also bling men to live under water are espeundertaken for practical purposes, such cially useful in fishing for coral. Little as recovering sunken treasure, there was insects in the ocean produce coral, which no provision for renewing the supply of grows as the bones of the human body renewing air as it became exhausted, nor for keep- do, being formed by a lime secretion, ing the vessel free from the water forced which these little creatures are constantly by the pressure to rise within it. depositing. There are, we may say, great.

About the year 1715, Dr. Halley con- forests in the sea that are built by these trived the method of furnishing air to the little architects. The coral which is used Bell while it was at the bottom. With in jewelry is known as precious coral. this contrivance, Dr. Halley descended It is mostly obtained in the Mediterranean, with four others, and remained an hour and the Barbary Coast furnishing the dark a half in water more than fifty feet deep. red, Sardinia the yellow or salmon color, He soon afterward invented an apparatus and the coast of Italy the rose pink; in with which one could leave the Bell and Europe and this country the latter is most. walk on the bottom for a considerable valuable, while in the East the dark red distance. The diver was furnished with is preferred. Many coral fishers live near a heavy metallic cap which was connected the city of Naples, and there numerous with a long flexible tube for conveying boats are fitted up for business. The air within the Bell, and, of course, having coral obtained by them is sold to merair, he could live in the water quite as chants in Naples, who have it manufac well as above it. tured into various kinds of ornaments.