296 HISTORY OF T H E* 



In our Teas the cod-fifh begin to fpawn in January, 

 and depofit their eggs in rough ground, among 

 rocks. Some continue in the roe rill the beginning 

 of April. The cod-fifh in general recover fooner 

 after fpawning than any other fifh, therefore it is 

 common to take fome good ones all the fummer. 

 The fiih of a middling fize are mod efteemed for the 

 table, and are chofen by their plumpnefs and round- 

 nefs, eipecially near the tail j by the depth of the 

 pit behind the head, and by the regular undulated 

 appearance of the fides, as if they were ribbed. 

 The glutinous parts about the head lole their deli- 

 cate flavour after it hath been 24 hours out of the 

 water, even in winter, in which thefe and other fifh 

 of this genus are in highcft feafon. 



The largeft that we ever heard of taken on our 

 coaft weighed 78 pounds; the length was 5 feet 8 

 inches, and the girth round the fhoulders 5 feet. It 

 wa$ taken at Scarborough in 17 55, and fold for i fhil- 

 ling. But the general weight of thefe fifh in theYork- 

 fhire feas, or more properly on the Dogger bank, is 

 from 14 to 40 pounds. Fifhermen are weil acquainted 

 with the ufe of the air bladder^ mjotwdof the cod, and 

 are very dextrous in perforating this part of a live filh 



fingle part of its whole body that is not armed with fpines ; and that 

 there is no way of ieizing the nfh, but by the little fin at the end of 

 the tail. 



But this animal IB harmkfs, when compared to the fireflare, 

 .which feems to be the dread of even the boldeft and mofl expert 

 enced fifhermen. The weapon with which nature hath armed this 

 animal, is 5 inches long, of a flinty hardneis, the fides thin, fliarp 

 pointed, and clofely and fharply bearded the whole length. 



The torpedo is poiTefTed of one of the mofl potent and extraordi' 

 nary faculties in qature. To all outward appearance, it is furnifhed 

 with no uncommon powers, yet the inflant it is touched, it numbs 

 pot only the hand and arrn, but fometimes the whole body, pene- 

 trating ia an inilant through the pores tp the ve,ry fprings of life, 

 fcnc! gives great pain, 



with 



