STUDY VI. 



319 



*' fifhes force their way upward in fuch quantities, 

 *' that, with hands fufficient, fifty thoufand bar- 

 *' rels might be filled in a fingle day. Thefe are 

 ** a fpecies of very large herrings, moft agreeable 

 *' to the tafte when frefli. They are preffed upon 

 " each other to the thicknefs of a foot, and arc 

 " taken out by pails-full, like water. The Sa- 

 ** vages dry them for eight or ten days, and live 

 " on them during their whole feed-time." 



This teftimony is confirmed by a great many 

 others, and particularly by a Gentleman of Englifh 

 extradion, but a native of America, who has fa- 

 voured us with a Hift:ory of Virginia. " In 

 ** Spring," fays he*, " herrings pufh upwards, 

 ** in fuch quantities, along the rivulets and fords 

 " of rivers, that it is almofi; impoffible to pafs on 



" horfeback without trampHng on thofe fifiies 



" Hence it comes to pafs, that at this feafon of the 

 " year, thofe parts of the rivers where the water 

 *' is frefh, are rendered fetid by the fifh which they 

 **- contain. Befides herrings, may be feen an in- 

 ** finite number of fhads, roach, fl:urgeon, and a 

 " few lampreys, which find their way from the Sea 

 " up the rivers." 



It would appear, that another column of thofe 

 fiflies iflues from the North Pole, to the eaftward 



* Hiftory of Virginia, page 202, 



of 



