202 Natural History and Political Impropriation 



During the great eruption of Lancerote, in 1731, all the 

 banks and shores of the island were covered with dead and 

 dying Jish, many of kinds never before seen there, (Von Buch ; 

 Lyell, vol. i. p. 381.) The putrid vapours were so great on 

 the 28th October, that they fell down condensed in drops, 

 suffocating the cattle, which dropped lifeless to the ground, 

 (Lyell, i. 38 1.) The eruptions of Iceland have very frequently 

 slain the fish. (See Henderson and others.) 



We may presume, from these effects, that the phenomena 

 in Sumatra in 1776, and in 1827 and 1830 in the British 

 Channel, originated in s.ome disengagement of mephitic vapour ; 

 and though in neither case was an earthquake felt, still it is 

 more than probable that earthquakes then and there occurred: 

 and, if it were not out of place now, I could adduce reasons 

 (which will be stated hereafter) for concluding that the Bri- 

 tish seas experienced some submarine convulsion in August 

 and October, 1833. As, however, the object of this paper is 

 to discuss the evidence from animated nature, we shall merely 

 conclude it with observing, that, according to the presumptive 

 proof before us, the want of fish in the Kamtschatkan seas was 

 occasioned by a disengagement of terrestrial heat ; and, if so, 

 that the irruption of bears in Canada, considering the con- 

 ditions of the year 1833, was occasioned by a similar object 

 and cause. 



Whatever be decided, it is, I think, clearly established that 

 this head of my argument is founded on sufficient evidence : 

 and thus, for the present, I quit the subject, which will be 

 resumed in subsequent Numbers. W. B. Clarke. 



Stanley Green, near Poole, Dorset, March 4. 1834<. 



Art. II. Facts and Considerations on the Natural History and 

 Political Impropriation of the Salmon Fish. By T. G., of 

 Clitheroe, Lancashire. 



Sir, 



Introductorily to the remarks, corresponding to this title, 

 which I have to communicate, I would give a description of 

 fish of the genus iSalmo, which we have in the Kibble : it 

 may enable some of your readers to comprehend more readily 

 what is said afterwards. 



We have, first, the salmon, which, in the Ribble, varies in 



appearance of Graham's Island, at that datCyfor the second time, at the sur- 

 face of the sea, the steam and smoke rising furiously. (See Mag. Nat, 

 Hist., VI. 307. [and IV. 545—550.]) 



