494. Capt. CARMICHAEL'S Description of 
and striking against the face of the mountain, are beat back on 
the low land in furious whirlwinds. j 
The sea immediately round the island is fathomable to the 
distance of a mile and upwards. The bottom is every where 
rocky, and covered with a gigantic species of sea-weed (Fucus py- 
rifer), which, after growing from the depth sometimes of twenty 
fathoms or more, stretches along the surface of the water, and 
preserves it in some degree smooth and unruffled during even the 
highest winds. This is a circumstance of the more importance, 
as the coast abounds in a variety of excellent fish, which will prove 
a valuable source of subsistence should the island come to be per- 
manently inhabited. Among these are several species well known 
at the Cape of Good Hope. The Snook (Scomber serpens), the 
Horse-mackarel (Scomber Trachurus), the Roman fish (Sparus 
_), and the Jacobeever (Scorpena Capensis). The best fish, 
however, and fortunately the most abundant, is a species of Che- 
todon I should think, but which is figured by Forster as a New 
Zealand fish, under the name of Sparus Carponemus. To the ge- 
nus Sparus it has certainly no affinity, if the form and disposition 
of the teeth are of any weight in the character. This fish usually 
grows to the weight of five or six pounds; and is remarkable for 
this circumstance, that when pulled up by the hook it discharges 
from its vent a great quantity of air, which follows it up in large 
bubbles. A large species of Perca is sometimes caught in the 
deep water. Among the rocks are found an undescribed species 
of Callionymus, and a most beautiful Labrus. I saw one Exocetus 
eziliens that dropped on board a ship while at anchor, and which 
measured eighteen inches in length. The only shell-fish I ob- 
served were a Chiton, a diminutive Cardium, a Patella, and two 
Buccinums. A large crawfish is found in abundance and of a good 
quality. The Sepia détapoda, and an Echinus, with a small land in- 
sect 
