1936 On the Continent

migratory and travel from the Black Sea down through the Bosphorus and the Marmora to the Mediterranean. Millions of fish must, at certain seasons, therefore pass through a strip of water which, in places, measures less than half a mile in width. It is possible on such occasions to catch within an hour as many as forty 3-foot mackerel.
    There is a fish measuring from 6 to 24 inches in length which in Turkish is called
lufair
and which resembles in shape and colour a silver trout. Its flesh is considered a rare delicacy and it can only be caught during the months of August, September and October. It possesses all the fighting characteristics of the trout and is difficult to catch because, its mouth being delicate, the hook can easily be torn out if the line is hauled in too rapidly. On the other hand, if the fisherman is too slow the fish will quickly free itself. The
lufair
will not strike during the day and canonly be caught on quiet, moonlit nights. Coupled to the thrill of fishing you have all the loveliness, all the exotic beauty of the Bosphorus as it lies asleep. Here and there along the shore a few yellow lights. Above and in the misty, silver-grey of the water we see the moon. The old houses, the old
yalis
, white and ghostly in the dim light, rise out of the massive shadows. Stretched across the colourless sky there rises a solitary pine. Then, from afar, we hear the voice of a fisherman, melancholy and high-pitched, reciting some forgotten song of Asia as, out on the sea, he broils his catch over a charcoal brasier and quaffs down the white, transparent rakki.
    The vicinity of Istanbul also abounds in game. The price of a hunting licence is also 10s. All tourists are allowed to import five hundred rounds of ammunition providing they are also equipped with a shot gun. Permission for the introduction of rifles of heavier calibre to be used in the pursuit of big game can be obtained by applying to the Turkish Embassy. Hunting permits can be obtained directly through one of the travel agencies placed in Turkey or by personal application upon arrival. The hunting season extends from September 1 to March 15 inclusive.
Shooting
    Quail, red and grey partridge, silver pheasant, wild duck and goose, woodcock and snipe abound in the region of Istanbul. Wild boar, deer, rabbit, hare and gazelle also are plentiful in this district. Bears are found throughout Asia Minor and, in the hinterland of Izmir (Smyrna), Antalya and the Taurus mountains, fallow deer, elk, mountain sheep, leopard, grey wolf, fox, ibex, mountain goat, lynx, and in the mountains of the east, close to the Persian border, an occasional tiger.
    Boar are so plentiful in Turkey that the Mohammedan peasants who do not eat pork but must protect their fields from the ravages of these creatures are obliged to shoot them down on sight. Nor is the hunting season in this case limited to six and a half months, but open all the year round. In spite of all these factors the boar thrive and are just as numerous as ever.
    The white villas set off against a sea of dazzling blue, andthe cool green pine trees of the Prince Islands, situated in the Marmora within a few miles of the city of Istanbul, make an ideal summer resort. Here one can engage in fishing, swimming, picnicking, painting, and dancing. A fee of approximately £4 sterling per season (six months) will entitle the tourist to play tennis on one of the numerous courts.
Picturesque Festival
    A special feature of the islands, on which no motor vehicle is allowed to circulate, are the organised or impromptu donkey tours and races. In the early part of summer is staged what is known as “the Battle of the Flowers,” when many carts drawn by horses or oxen and decorated with multi-hued flowers parade up and down the streets as the prettiest society girls of Istanbul fling bouquets to the cheering multitudes and laughingly dodge the fragrant missiles tossed back in jest. Then there are boat races and swimming and water-polo meets and, along the quays, casinos where, day and night, one may sit or dance and, listening to soft music, watch the silent beauty of the sea at sunset or the white misty beams which travel earthward from the moon. And, later in the season, towards the end of summer, up in Luna Park 50,000 spectators follow, spellbound, the intricate movements and the gay, colourful costumes of the peasants of six nations as the latter dance at the opening of the Balkan Festival with the happy carelessness