Sicily

In that part of the island which is cultivated intensively some 3,o84,000hectol. of wine were produced in 1926 and had not the phylloxera devastated the vineyards during the last decade of the 19th century the production would be considerably higher; 132,900 tons of olives, 162,2oohectol. of olive oil and 595,100 tons of oranges and lemons were also produced. The zone of the latifondi, or extensive culture, yielded 143,000 tons of beans in 1926. The total exports in 1925 were half as much again as the imports, and about 7o% of the former were agricultural products.

Mining.

The most important Sicilian mineral is undoubtedly sulphur, mined principally in Caltanissetta and Girgenti, and in minor quantities in Palermo and Catania (208,447 tons in 1925).

Another Sicilian mineral industry is the production of com mon salt and rock-salt. The centre of the asphalt mining industry is the province of Syracuse (200,000 tons in 1925). Pumice stone is also exported from Lipari.

Other Industries.

Deep-sea fisheries give employment to many Sicilians, who exercise their calling not only off the coasts of their island, but along the north African shore, from Morocco to Tripoli. In 1914 the total number of fishermen was 46,583, as against 127,558 for the whole of Italy, and 8,789 tons of fish were caught. Only 32 tons of coral were obtained in 1914, for a value of LI5,168—about one-tenth of the quantity for 1900. The sponge divers brought up sponges valued at £24,000. The estimated hauls of tunny fish were 2,088 tons, valued at L72,780. The majority of the Sicilian industries are directly connected with various branches of agriculture. Such, for instance, is the preparation of the elements of citric acid. The total production of raw citrate of calcium was 82,190 tons in 1924-5, of which 4,678 tons were exported, and 1,020 of tartaric acid; 2,78o tons of citric acid, produced at Palermo and Linate in Lombardy, were also exported. Older and more flourishing is the Marsala industry. Marsala wine is a product of the western vineyards situated slightly above sea-level. Another flourishing Sicilian industry carried on by a large number of small houses is that of preserving vegetables in tins. An artificial lake at Piana dei Greci above Palermo is used for the production of electric power and for the irrigation of the Conca d'Oro. Good furniture is made at Palermo and lace (mostly from old patterns) at several places.

Communications.

Before 186o there was no railway in Sicily. The total length of Sicilian railways is now nearly 1,2oom., all single lines. Their construction was rendered very costly by the mountainous character of the island. Messina is connected with

the railway system of the mainland by ferry-boats from Villa San Giovanni and Reggio. From Messina lines run along the northern coast to Palermo, and along the east coast, via Catania to Syracuse : the latter line is prolonged along the south of the island via Canicatti to Aragona Caldare, Girgenti and Porto Em pedocle. From Catania another line runs westward through the centre of the island via San Caterina Xirbi (with a branch to Canicatti) to Roccapalumba (with a branch to Aragona Caldare), and thence northwards to Termini, on the line between Messina and Palermo. This is the direct route from Catania to Palermo. From Catania begins the line round Etna following its south, west and north slopes, and ending at Giarret Riposto on the east coast railway. From Valsavoia (14m. south of Catania on the line to Syracuse) a branch line runs to Caltagirone. From Palermo a line runs southwards to Corleone and San Carlo (whence there are diligences to Sciacca on the south coast) and another to Castelvetrano, Marsala and Trapani. Narrow-gauge railways have been constructed, especially in the south, so that Catania is linked up with Ragusa and Castelvetrano with Porto Empedocle and Licata. A steam tramway runs from Messina to the Faro at the north-east extremity of the island, and thence along the north coast to Barcelona, and another along the east coast from Messina to Giampilieri. Communications by sea are important. A steamer leaves Naples every night for Palermo, and vice versa. Palermo, Messina and Catania (qq.v.) are the most important harbours. Porto Empedocle and Licata share with Catania most of the sulphur export trade, and the other ports of note are Marsala, Trapani, Syracuse.

Economic, Intellectual and Moral Conditions.

As a general rule, trade and the increase of production have not kept pace with the development of the ways of communication. The poverty of the Sicilian population is accentuated by the unequal distribution of wealth among the different classes of society. About one-fifth of the total area of the island belongs to 1,025 in dividuals, and half of this is properly cultivated, the rest being badly or insufficiently so. But the proportion of the area of the island used for agricultural purposes is very high—no less than A small but comparatively wealthy class—composed principally of the owners of latifondi—resides habitually in the large cities of the island, or even at Naples, Rome or Paris.