IN TRODUCTION. 17 



Voluptuous prefer before the choiceil Fowls. 

 In an Element that produces nothing, it is im- 

 pofTibk, one would imagine, that the Num- 

 ber or Fertility of the Inhabitants fhould be 

 any Thing confiderable ; yet what a prodigious 

 Quantity of Muibles, Crabs, Lobfters, and 

 other Filh of an enormous Size ; what Piles 

 of Cyders, whofe Whitenefs and Fat give a 

 Keennefs to the Appetite *, what a Profufion of 

 Turbots, Flounders, Dabs, Burts, Plaice, and 

 all the various Species of flat Fiili, whofe 

 Flefh is fo exceedingly admired, does it fur- 

 nifh us with ? We obferve, in the Seafon, 

 whole Fleets of Ships freighted with Herrings ; 

 and at other Times Shoals of Mackarel and 

 Whitings prefentthemfelves voluntarily before 

 us upon the Coafts •, infomuch that whole 

 Provinces are fupplied with afufficient Quan- 

 tity of them by the bare Capture of a fingle 

 Day. Legions of Smelts and Flounders for- 

 fake the Salt Waters in the Spring, and begin 

 to fwim up the Rivers. Shads follow the 

 fame Tradb, and grow to their full Perfe6lion 

 in the frefh Water. Salmons continue till 

 Jtdy^ and fometimes later, to enrich theFifli- 

 ers, though threefcore, and fometimes four- 

 fcore Leagues from the Sea. Every Seafon re- 

 gales us with freih Delicacies, without the ieaft 

 Interruption of their ufual Prefents •, fuch as 

 Lampreys, Smelts, Tunnies, Soles, Thorn- 

 backs, and a vaft Variety of other Filh that 

 adorn our Dilhes, and gratify the niceft Tafte. 

 What a Delicacy, what a Profufion of Pro- 



vifions 



