22 27j^ BRITISH ANGLER. 



But if the Inhabitants of the watry Regions 

 have fuch a watchful Eye upon the fcattered 

 Spawn, and are thus addi6led to devour one 

 another, this Element, one would think, muil, 

 in procefs of Time, ceafe to be replenifhed ; 

 for fince the lefTer Fifh are the proper Sufte- 

 nance of the larger, the former muft of Courfe 

 be all deftroyed ; and the latter, in their Turn, 

 perifh for want of Subfiftence. The Almigh- 

 ty, however, has taken .proper Meafures for 

 the Prefervation of Fiili, by giving Strength 

 to fome, Adlivity and Circumfpedion to o- 

 thers -, and by a Multiplication of them to 

 fuch a prodigious Degree, that their Fecundi- 

 ty exceeds their natural Inclination to prey 

 upon each other. Be the Number of Cods ever 

 fo great, that have been caught this Year, or 

 devour'd in the Sea by the Invafion of their 

 Enemies, there is flill a Remainder of that 

 Tribe, which is more than fufficient to furniih 

 us with as large a Quantity about two Years 

 hence. The Fadt is demonflrable by the fol- 

 lowing Inflance. A fine frefli Cod being pro- 

 duced before Mr. LeuwenhoecJt, he had the 

 Curiofity to count her Eggs, for which Pur- 

 pofe he took as many as weighed a Dram, and 

 told them over. After this he weighed the 

 whole Mafs of Eggs, which, allowing eight 

 Times the Number to every Ounce, amount- 

 ed to no Ms than nine Millions, three hundred 

 forty-four thoufand Eggs. 



As incredible as this A^^count may fecm to 

 be at firft View, the Quantity of Eggs fo fre- 

 quently 



