JOHN DOREE. 241 



smooth. From the head, the body gradually tapers to the 

 tail. Their colour is a dusky brown, mixed with dingy 

 yellow, and the belly is whitish. 



8. DOREE TRIBE. 



The fish which constitute the present tribe, differ much 

 jfrom each other, both in their appearance and habits. 

 ,Some of the species are found in fresh, and others in salt 

 water. 



John Doree. The common name of this fish is a cor- 

 ruption from the French ofjaune doree, signifying, yellow 

 lor gilt fish. Its general appearance is very far from in- 

 jviting; but epicures are not to be deterred by appear- 

 jances, and this fish is one of those which are in the high- 

 iest request for the table. It was first introduced into 

 notice by the late comedian, Mr. Quin. The immense 

 size of its mouth, and the number and strength of its 

 teeth, sufficiently indicate its voracious propensities. 

 Those persons who are in the habit of sea- fishing, know 

 that these fish will eagerly seize, almost without dis- 

 crimination, nearly all kinds of baits. When first taken 

 out of the water, a singular kind of noise is generally 

 made by the rushing of the air through the openings of 

 the gills. From a dark spot on each side of the body, 

 some persons suppose that it was the Doree, and not the 

 haddock, out of whose mouth the apostle St. Peter, at 

 the command of our Saviour, took the tribute-money. 

 iThese fish are found in the North Sea, the British 

 (Channel, the Mediterranean, and the Atlantic Ocean ; 

 land they are caught in great numbers off the coasts of 

 (Devonshire and Cornwall. 



The greatest weight of these fish is from ten to twelre 



M 



