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fand, or obtain any nourifliment from thence ? for there is no other 

 difference between the grains of fand, and t]ie beach-ftones on the 

 fea-fliorc, than that the one are larger than the others ; and, as in- 

 capable as glafs is of affording fupport to any Uving creature, fo is it 

 impoffible for any nourifliment to be found in fand. 



If it were pofilble for the mere fand on the fliore to produce fhell- 

 fifli, how much would our coaRs abound with them, and not with 

 them only, but alfo with all other forts of filh ; for tlie flat-fiih feed 

 on tliefe fmall fliell-fifh, and thereby become very fat and good ; and 

 fo does alfo the whiting. 



The chief reafon, in my opinion, wliy we do not find fliell-fifli in 

 equal plenty, at all times, is, that the ftrong nortli-weft winds blow- 

 ing diredlly on our coall, do fo ftir up the fand and muddy bottom on 

 the fliore, that the fliell-fifh are tliereby overwhelmed and buried, 

 and fo perilb. 



During the laft hve or fix years, we have not had any great ftorms 

 from that quarter, and we have for thel'e laft tlirce or four years fuc- 

 ceffively, had fuch excellent fiat-fifli, efpecially flounders, that no 

 one remembers to have feen the like ; the reafon for which I have 

 already afiigned, namely, tliat the ihell-fifh during that fpace of time, 

 multiplied exceedingly, affording plenty of food for fattening the flat- 

 fiibes. And this is alfo proved by experience ; for whenever flounders 

 are in perfection, their ftomachs and bowels are found to be full of 

 fragments of fmall fliells. And, upon reflecting witli mj^felf as to 

 the caufe of thefe fmall fhells being fo broken into fragments, I could 

 not aflign any other reafon than the following : 



The flounder, fole, turbot, and otlier flat-fifli, are formed by na- 

 ture with their mouths diftorted and in a different pofition from that 

 of moft other fiihes ; and this formation feems to be, for enabli!:ig 

 thcm to pick up their food from the bottom of the fea, and not to go 



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