158 SEVERAL PECULIAR VARIETIES OF FISH. 



person who for months has had no fresh provision. 

 I one day caught a fish of a bright-red color. On 

 hauling him up, he extended three feelers from each 

 side of the jaw, and two beautiful wings from his 

 sides ; these wings w^ere bordered with alternate 

 stripes of red and blue, that rivalled in color the 

 tints of the rainbow. They were said to be called 

 the garnet by the natives. The wings I preserved. 

 They are unlike those of the flying-fish, being cir- 

 cular, and much thicker and stronger. The fish 

 was about five inches long:. 



There are plenty of cray or craw fish, and several 

 varieties of eels, in these bays. The latter are the 

 most disgusting creatures that I ever saw. On being 

 caught, they expel from their loathsome bodies a 

 substance resembling milk. The Mauriis eat them; 

 and when we were in Milford Haven Bay the schooner 

 Eliza's crew, who were then trying out a sperm 

 Avhale, considered them as a delicacy, with no other 

 preparation than immersing them in the boiling-hot 

 oil. The crayfish belongs to the lobster family — its 

 claws ate somewhat similar, only lacking the pincer- 

 like appendage. It is of a bright-red color, and is 

 most luxurious eating. It is plentiful, and easily 

 caught with a net, or hook and line. 



Whilst in these bays fishing, the fresh green look 

 of the vegetation, and sweet singing of the birds, 

 made us long for a return to a life ashore. The 

 sailor, if compelled to reniain at sea, in all cases 

 prefers to be far from land, with nothing to meet his 

 gaze but sky and ocean — land in sight continually 

 recalling home memories, long dwelling upon which 

 is painful. Another reason, too, why Jack hates 



