prevalent Disorders, Sfc, Uoith Volcanic Emanations, 199 



quakes, floods, meteors, and hurricanes, &c. than perhaps 

 any previous period on record, since 1348 ? 



But I pass on to a ^ew remarks, not actually connected 

 with the preceding ones, but arising from the subject; re- 

 serving the full enquiry, as to the claims of 1833, to another 

 occasion. 



I have stated above, that the want qfjlsh, to which the 

 emigration of the bears in 1817 (that remarkable year) is 

 attributed, was " probably occasioned by some submarine 

 convulsion." That fish are frequently affected by the dis- 

 engagement of some invisible mephitic vapour, sometimes de- 

 stroying them, and sometimes driving them away from their 

 natural haunts, is not difficult to be maintained. The British 

 Channel has, since 1817, experienced two phenomena which, 

 I believe, have never hitherto been recorded ; and, as bearing 

 on the topic before us, and exactly, in some points, paralleled 

 by well-attested facts, it may serve a double purpose to state 

 the particulars. 



A little before Christmas, 1827, immense multitudes offish 

 were found floating along the coast of Sussex (about Rye 

 and Hastings) in a stupified and helpless state; and, at low 

 water, being unable to get back into the sea, were picked up 

 by thousands at the water's edge. They were chiefly conger 

 eels, many of enormous size, but several were fish never before 

 seen by the fishermen. This lasted several days. The period 

 in question was preceded by a thick fog. The cause assigned 

 by the common people was, " a heavy fall of snow, with a 

 south wind, which^ with frost and starlight nights, blinded the 

 fish " / / / I give these statements as I received them from my 

 brother-in-law, Mr. Beaumont of Winchelsea, who had them 

 from Mr. Tilden, of that place, who ate of the fish, as did 

 hundreds of persons, without any bad effect. 



On making enquiries, I have found that, about the end of Ja- 

 nuary, or the beginning of February, 1830, a similar occurrence 

 took place along the coasts of Dorset and Hants; and, as far as 

 my informant* recollects, dog-fish were very numerous. They 

 were washed ashore, and collected in abundance as food, at 

 Bourne Mouth, and the Dunes at the entrance to Poole.f 



* Lieut.W. B. Stocker, R.N., late signal officer at the flag-head station, 

 mouth of Poole harbour. 



f Poole is one of the worst fish-markets in the kingdom : there is 

 no dependence upon it for anything. A gossip story is afloat, which 

 endeavours to account for this barrenness. I give the current version. 

 It happened, a few years ago, that myriads of very fine mackerel were 

 taken off the coast ; and so great was the draught of them, that, instead 

 of realising a fortune, the fishermen were obliged to let the people carry 

 away as many as they would. In anger, therefore, they cast back the fish, 



o 4 



