ON FISH. 11 



bers at certain seasons of the year, though per- 

 haps you may not be aware that there are as 

 many hills, and, probably, mountains, in the 

 sea as there are upon dry land; this has been 

 partly ascertained in laying down the cable 

 across the Atlantic. Now, these hills are 

 covered with marine plants, like a forest or 

 jungle; and you might suppose that, for pur- 

 poses of concealment or protection, these gre- 

 garious fish would resort to such places to de- 

 posit their spawn ; and if they did, you may 

 well suppose how few would be taken in your 

 nets. Now, a benevolent Providence has de- 

 signed that these fish should become useful to 

 man. And so they are, to a great extent ; for, 

 besides affording food to many in this country, 

 they are exported to different parts of the world. 

 I must now tell you that no spawn of fish will 

 vivify, or become productive, without light. 

 There is, then, a powerful instinct implanted 

 in them, which compels them to resort to 

 shallow places in the sea, in order to deposit 

 their spawn under the influence of light, and 

 where you are enabled to use your nets to 

 advantage. These gregarious fish, or fish which 

 go in shoals, are pursued by many enemies 



