C 7-h ) 



This fifhcnnaii, ulio was a very intelligent man, aucl of good 

 efliniation in his profefllon, and had been brought up to it from his 

 youth, informed me, that he had often experienced, that in the fame 

 tradl of coaft where he had found for feveral years fucccflively very 

 good Mufcles, and in great abundance, yet afterwards in or about the 

 fame ])lace, very few or none ^^•erc to be got ; for which he afllgned 

 thefe reafons : 



" At the time of the Mufcles laying their eggs or fpawn, which 

 lads but for a Ihort feafon, this fpawn, by ftrong tides and heavy gales 

 of wind, will be carried from the places where it is depofited, and 

 when the water becomics (till and calm, it will fink to the bottom, or 

 adhere to the weeds growing there ; and then in the fpace of two or 

 three years, a good and plenteous Mufclc-bank will be formed in the 

 place; adding, that by this means Mufcles are taken where noncwere 

 ever found before, and Mufcle-banks formed of very great extent, 

 tlie fpawn laid by the Mufcles being in fuch abundance, as to make 

 the fea-water appear of a white colour." 



If then, at the feafon when the Mufcles depofit their eggs or 

 fpawn, we take up a quantity of the mud or fandy matter from the 

 Ihore, and keep it covered with water, we need not wonder if we 

 find Mufcles or other fliell-fiih produced from thence ; but if we 

 imagine that this comes to pafs by any other means than the ordi- 

 nary courfe of generation, we Ihall therein deceive ourfelves. And 

 for my part, I hold it equally impoOible for a Imall fliell-fifh to be 

 produced without generation, as for a whale to have its origin from 

 the mud. 



The eggs or fpawii of Mufcles, and other fliell-fifli, being earned 

 along with the fea-water to the fides of Ihips lying in harbours, will 

 adhere to them, and become fliell-fifli, by which means thofe ihips in 

 their voyages to other countries, will introduce luch kinds of Ihell- 

 hlh as were before unknown in thofe parts. 



But how can it be conceived that living creatures can proceed from 



