102 MALACOP. ABDOM. PIKE FAMILY. 



fixed ; it is then rigged with a latine sail, shrowds, 

 &c., in imitation of the boats of the country. The 

 fisherman taking his station on a projecting rock, 

 with deep water along side, and an off-shore breeze, 

 commits his little raft to the wind, carrying with it 

 a line of thirty or forty fathoms in length. A float 

 is fixed at about every fathom, and from each float 

 depends a fine hair line, with a baited hook. When 

 the Belone bites, he draws the float down violently 

 once, and then seems quietly to resign himself to his 

 fate. The fishermen waits till ten or twelve are 

 hooked ; he then hauls in his raft, relieves it of its 

 freight, and again launches it for another cruise. I 

 once, says Mr. Tonna, saw a boy catch fifty or 

 sixty in this way in half an hour. 



A curious circumstance connected with this fish 

 is, that its bones are green. Many authors seem to 

 think that this is the result of boiling ; but Cuvier 

 states that in the whole genus the bones are re- 

 markable for their beautiful green colour, which is 

 inherent, and independent either of cooking or of 

 transudation from any neighbouring part. This 

 colour sometimes excites a prejudice against the fish 

 as aliment; and tastes, moreover, seem to vary. 

 Considerable quantities, remarks Mr. Yarrell, are 

 eaten in London, some from curiosity ; but the 

 larger portion from the moderate price at which 

 they are sold. The flesh partakes of the flavour of 

 the Mackerel, but is drier. In the Edinburgh mar- 

 ket, again, " they are considered by many persons 

 to be superior to the Mackerel for food, being firmer 



