222 FISHES. 



But there are other movements executed by fishes of a more anomalous 

 character, the necessary conditions of which remain to be investigated. The 

 Herring, Pilchard and Haddock, for example, after frequenting certain parts of 

 the coast for many years, at stated intervals, suddenly M-ithdraw themselves to 

 other stations, to which they had not been accustomed to resort. It is pro- 

 bable that these shiftings of fish may depend on the movements of those 

 animals on which they subsist, or on the changes in the quantity of food, oc- 

 casioned by excessive consumption. 



The Fisheries of this kingdom are objects of vast importance, yet, though 

 they have frequently occupied the attention of Parliament, a great deal re- 

 mains to be done before they be placed in that state of improvement of which 

 they are susceptible. In point of importance, our fisheries probably rank in 

 the following order : 1. Gadusidce, or fisheries having for their object the 

 capture of Cod, Coal-fish, Haddock, Ling, Hake, Tusk. 2. Salmonidce, in- 

 cluding Salmon, Trout, Char, and Smelts. 3. Clupeadee, including Herring, 

 Pilchard, Shad. 4. Pleuronectidce, including Turbot, Holibut, Flounder, and 

 Sole. 5. ScomberoidcB, or Mackerel. 6. Baiadae, including Rays and Skates. 

 7- Cyprinidee^ including Carp, Bream, Tench, &;c. 8. Anguillada, including 

 the Eel and Conger. 



To those interested in the improvement of these fisheries the following re- 

 marks may not be deemed out of place. 1. The fisheries sustain much in- 

 jury in consequence of the capture of fish ready to spawn. No one can wit- 

 ness the exhibition of the large roes of the Cod, Ling, or Haddock, on the 

 stalls of our fish-markets, without being convinced of the propriety of some 

 legislative enactment (capable of application) to prevent this prodigal waste 

 of our stores, by prohibiting the fishery of each species for a certain time, 

 at the ordinary spawning season. 2. The fisheries are injured by the des- 

 truction which takes places in the fry, in consequence of the operations being 

 carried on at improper seasons, or with improper engines. The injury done 

 to the salmon-fishery by the destrviction of the fry has been frequently stat- 

 ed to the public, but few seem to be aware of the vast extent of injury to the 

 fry of many kinds of fish from the use of improper nets, by the trawlers of the 

 Channel Fisheries. On this subject the reader wUl find some important re- 

 marks in Mr Cornish's " View of the present state of the Salmon and Chan- 

 nel Fisheries," Lond. 1824. 3. The fisheries might be extended and render- 

 ed more valuable by enlarging the system of bounties, or rather, perhaps, by 

 directing them to new objects. The Turbot and Eel fisheries are neglected 

 in many places where they might be prosecuted to advantage ; and hundreds 

 of our fresh-water lakes, which at present are useless and waste, might be ren- 

 dered productive of much wholesome food. It becomes a question of great 

 national importance, whether these, and other obvious improvements in our 

 fisheries, might be most effectually promoted, by public statutes, or by Boards 

 ftnmished with suitable powers. 



The reader who wishes to consult accurate delineations of our native Fish- 

 es, should have recourse to the valuable plates of Donovan. Should mi- 

 nute description be the object of his search, the pages of Willoughby will not 

 feil to gratify him. 



