rOREE. 121 



knon^n actov, Qain, is uncertain. However this may be, I find 

 in some MS. notes of that date, that a sudden advance in the 

 price took place then, which is much complained of by a 

 country gentleman. "The variety of sea fish," says he, "which 

 our Devanciers had in great plenty and very cheap, is in our 

 days become scarce and extravagantly dear, never cheap but 

 when an accidental glut of Whitings and Macrell come in, 

 which is casual and seldom; but for valuable fish, as Cod, 

 John Dory's, they are seldom seen, and when they are, come 

 extravagantly dear, and ye Cod never good or firm. Dorys 

 yt used to be sold for 3 or 4 pence a piece, (Mr. Collins 

 remembers them at S^d. since his time,) are now two shillings 

 or half-a-crown a good one." On the other hand it has been 

 a misfortune to fishermen that considerable numbers have not 

 maintained a corresponding value. On one occasion in the 

 autumn more than sixty were hauled on shore in a ground- 

 sean, and some of them of large size. Yet the whole were 

 sold for nine shillings; and in another instance a hundred, the 

 larger part of full growth, were taken together, with small profit. 

 The heaviest example I have obtained information of weighed 

 eighteen pounds, and the longest measured twenty-two inches 

 and a half The whole figure much compressed, oval; older 

 individuals proportionally longer than the younger. Head 

 large, sloping from the eyes to the upper lip. Gape wide, — 

 jaws capable of extensive motion and protrusion; teeth in both; 

 upper lip formed of loose dense membrane folded across. Eyes 

 moderately large, high on the head; nostrils close before them. 

 A furrow from the upper lip to the first dorsal fin. Scales 

 very small. Lateral line curved. Two dorsal fins, sometimes 

 connected by a membrane, the first with strong spines tipped 

 with soft processes, which are sometimes of great length. 

 Second dorsal and second anal opposite each other; the first 

 anal with four strong crooked spines. Pectoral fins small and 

 round; ventrals large and long. Caudal fin round, and at its 

 root the body becomes almost square. At the angle of the 

 lower jaw a strong spine; each side of the body, along the 

 roots of the dorsal and anal fins, and also along the belly a 

 row of stout spines, which at the root of the second dorsal 

 and anal fins are double. Two flat-pointed spines at the back 

 of the head, and a broad spine at the upper part of the pectoral 

 VOL. n. II 



