494 Cfljp^. Carmichael's Description of 



and striking against the face of the mountain, are beat back on 

 the low land in furious whirlwinds. 



The sea immediately round the island is fathomable to the 

 distance of a mile and upwards. The bottom is every where 

 rocky, and covered with a gigantic species of sea-weed {Fucus py- 

 rifer), which, after growing from the depth sometimes of twenty 

 fathoms or more, stretches along the surface of the water, and 

 preserves it in some degree smooth and unruffled during even the 

 highest winds. This is a circumstance of the more importance, 

 as the coast abounds in a variety of excellent fish, Avhich will prove 

 a valuable source of subsistence should the island come to be per- 

 manently inhabited. Among these are several species well known 

 at the Cape of Good Hope. The Snook (Scomber serpens), the 

 Horse-mackarel (Scomber Trachurus), the Roman fish (Spams 



), and the Jacobeever (Scorpcena Capensis). The best fish,. 

 however, and fortunately the most abundant, is a species of ChcE- 

 todon I should think, but which is figured by Forster as a New 

 Zealand fish, under the name of Spams Carponemus. To the ge- 

 nus Sparus it has certainly no affinity, if the form and disposition 

 of the teeth are of any weight in the character. This fish usually 

 grows to the weight of five or six pounds ; and is remarkable for 

 this circumstance, that when pulled up by the hook it discharges 

 from its vent a great quantity of air, which follows it up in large 

 bubbles. A large species of Perca is sometimes caught in the 

 deep water. Among the rocks are found an undescribed species 

 of Callionijmus, and a most beautiful Labrus. I saw one Eiocaius 

 exiliens that dropped on board a ship while at anchor, and which 

 measured eighteen inches in length. The only shell-fish 1 ob- 

 served were a Chiton, a diminutive Cardiwn, a Patella, and two 

 Hucciniims. A large crawfish is found in abundance and of a good 

 quality. The Sepia octopoda, and an Echinus, Avith a small land in- 

 sect 



