HISTORY 



O F 



FISH, and the FISHERIES. 



Of FIJb. 



i, ocean is the great receptacle of fifhes. It 



^ hath been thought by fome, that all fifh^arc 



naturally of that fait element, and that they hare ) 

 mounted up into frefh water by fome accidental mi- I 

 gration. A few ftill fwim up rivers to depofit their 

 fpawn ; but of the great body of fifhes, of which the 

 fize is enormous, and the fhoals are endlefs, thofe all 

 keep to the fea, and would auickly expire in frefh 

 water. In that extenfive and undifcovered abode, 

 thoufands refide, whofe manners are a fecret to us, and 

 whofe very form is unknown. The curiofity of 

 mankind, indeed, hath drawn fome from their depths, 

 and their wants many more : with the figure of thefe, 

 at leaft, he is acquainted ; but for their puriuits, mi- 

 grations, focieties, and manner of bringing forth, 

 thefe arc all hidden in the turbulent element that 

 protects them, 



The number of fifh to which we havt given names, 

 and of the figure, at leafl, of which we know fome- 

 thing, according to Linnxus, are above 400. Thus, 



to 



