232 FISHES. 



again, acquire the powers of alternating their sta- 

 tions nearer the surface, and sinking to repose at 

 remoter distances from the operation of some action 

 not unconnected with heat ; and therefore their retreats 

 are probably not far beneath the known superficial 

 curfents of the sea, and confined to the recesses of 

 the shelving bases of continents, islands, and sub- 

 marine elevations : there they may grovel in inaction, 

 or perhaps hang suspended in a blind and toi-pid 

 equilibrium, till a solstitial day, increased warmth 

 on either hemisphere, or the periodical changes of 

 a monsoon stimulating their organs into new excite^ 

 ment, recommences the period of activity.* 



The business of gregarious fishes, such as ap- 

 proach the shores periodically, appears to be con- 

 Newfoundland, the whole of these phenomena may be distinctly 

 observed : we have personally traced the su<;cessive arrivals of 

 small Crustacea in the shoal waters of the coast, pursued by 

 squids and capelings ; then followed by hake and cod, along 

 with which holy-but and dog-fish were regularly caught, and 

 between the depths of forty-five and sixty fathoms, the former 

 had invariably shell fish in their stomachs while the latter ex- 

 hibited the remains of gadi. 



* A fact which T witnessed in 1797, about the latitude of 

 19.N., nearly midway between Africa and America seems to 

 countenance this periodical blindness. An ill-contrived experi- 

 ment having been made to ascertain the temperature of the seA 

 at a great depth, with a deep sea lead, and 300 fathoms of line 

 fastened to a bottle, the line became entangled and was supposed 

 to have floated, for on hauling up, a fish of the scomber family 

 was found entangled ^n a coil, but remarkable, because although 

 it was sound and firm, both eyes were nearly closed from the 

 nose backwards by a white film or nictating menibrane, and the 

 jaws were close' locked so as to open with difficulty. The mem- 

 brane surrounding the eyes is common to nearly all the gregarious 

 and migratory species and particularly conspicuousin gadoid fishes, 

 which have it often much dilated. A Malay seaman on board said 

 it was not an uncommon occurrence in the East India seas and that 

 it indicated the torpid period of the species, when they do not take 

 bait and lurk in depths beyond soundings. I doubt that any 

 species of fish can exist in a ' state of activity without t!ie oc- 

 casional aid of atmosplieric air,, the account of soundings below 

 1,000 fathoms may be doubted, though 2,000 fathoms of line 

 niiolit be out. 



