956 Analysis of Scientific Books and Memoirs. 



a certain period, likewise leave the fresh waters and betake themselves to 

 the sea. Similar movements are executetl by the fish which inhabits lakes. 

 As the spawning season approaches, several species, as the Gwiniad, leave 

 the deep water, and approach the margin ; while others, as the Roach, 

 not only approach the margin of the lake, but ascend the neighbouring 

 streams. — With a few other species, as the Eel, for example, these move*- 

 ments are reversed; the spawning fish leave the fresh- water lakes and 

 rivers, and retire to the sea to give birth to their progeny. 



" But there are other movements executed by fishes of a more anomalous 

 character, the necessary conditions of which remain to be investigated. 

 The Herring, Pilchard, and Haddock, for example, after frequenting cer- 

 tain parts of the coast for many years, at stated intervals, suddenly with- 

 draw themselves to other stations, to which they had not been accustom- 

 ed to resort. It is probable that these shiftings of fish may depend on the 

 movements of those animals on which they subsist, or on the changes in 

 the quantity of food occasioned by excessive consumption. 



" The fisheries of this kingdom are objects of vast importance, yet 

 though they have frequently occupied the attention of Parliament, a great 

 deal remains to be done before they be placed in that state of improvement 

 of which they are susceptible. In point of importance, our fisheries pro- 

 bably rank in the following order: 1. Gadusidce, or fisheries having for 

 their object the capture of Cod, Coal-fish, Haddock, Ling, Hake, Tusk. 

 2. Salmonidoe, including Salmon, Trout, Char, and Smelts. 3. Clupeadce, 

 including Herring, Pilchard, Shad. 4. PleurunectidcBy including Turbot, 

 HoHbut, Flounder, and Sole. 5. Scomberoidoe, or Mackerel. 6. Raiadce, 

 including Rays and Skates. 7. Cyprinidoe, including Carp, Bream, Tench, 

 &c 8. Anguillidw, including the Eel and Conger. 



" To those interested in the improvement of these fisheries, the fol- 

 lowing remarks may not be deemed out of place. 1. The fisheries sustain 

 much injury in consequence of the capture of fish ready to spawn. No 

 one can witness the exhibition of the large roes of the Cod, Ling, or Had- 

 dock, on the stalls of our fish-markets, without being convinced of the 

 propriety of some legislative enactment (capable of application) to prevent 

 this prodigal waste of our stores, by prohibiting the fishery of each species 

 for a certain time, at the ordinary spawning season. 2. The fisheries are 

 injured by the destruction which takes place in the fry, in consequence of 

 the operations being carried on at improper seasons, or with improper en- 

 ' gines. The injury done to the salmon fishery by the destruction of the 

 fry has been frequently stated to the public, but few seem to be aware of 

 the vast extent of injury to the fry of many kinds of fish, from the use of 

 improper nets, by the trawlers of the Channel Fisheries. On this sub- 

 ject the reader will find some important remarks in Mr Cornish's View of 

 the present State of the Salmon and Channel Fisheries, Lond. 1824. 3. The 

 fisheries might be extended and rendered more valuable by enlarging the 

 system of bounties, or rather, perhaps, by directing them to new objects. 

 The Turbot and Eel fisheries are neglected in many places where they 

 might be prosecuted to advantage ; and hundreds of our fresh- water lakes, 

 which at present are useless and waste, might be rendered productive of 



