3S 6 SEAL, SHARK, AND DOG FISHERIES. 



with fuch violence, that there hath been an inftance 

 of a veffel of 70 tons having been towed away by 

 them againft a freih gale. They fometimes run 

 off with 200 fathoms of line, and with two har- 

 poons in them -, and will employ the fifhers for 12, 

 and fometimes 24 hours before they are fubdued. 

 When killed, they are either hauled on fhore, 

 or if at a diftance from land, to the fide of the 

 vefTel. The liver, being the only ufeful part, is 

 taken out and melted into oil in kettles provided 

 for that purpofe. A large filh, particularly the 

 female, will yield eight barrels of oil, two of ufelefs 

 fedirrient, and afford a profit of 20!. 



The oil is of the mod valuable kind; pure, 

 fweet, extremely proper for lamps, and much va- 

 lued by tanners. It is alfo ufed by the filhers for 

 curing burns, bruifes, and rheumatic complaints. 

 The commiffioners of forfeited eftates at Edinburgh., 

 were at confiderable expence in encouraging this 

 valuable, though fmall fifhery ; but their good in- 

 tentions were fruflrated through the mifconducl of 

 the perfon whom they appointed to carry it on. At 

 prefent it is only attempted occafionally, by pri- 

 vate perfons. 



Doc-FisH. The catching fea dogs is properly a 

 defenfive fifhery. Thefe animals, though fcarcely 

 exceeding the fize of a large cod, are equally de- 

 ftruftive -to nets, and to all the fpecies of fifli whom 

 they can overcome. They had become fo offenfive 

 upon the coafts of Newfoundland and Labrador, 

 that the enraged fifhermen made war upon them, 

 as a common enemy, and with fuch fuccefs, thar 

 they have almoft extirpated the whole fpecies from 

 the American fhores. 



They abound on the coaft of Shetland, particu- 

 larly the Hebrides, where they are taken in confi- 

 derable numbers. Being fplit and dried, they are 

 conveyed by the women through different parts of 

 the country, and fold or exchanged for neceflaries ; 

 thus forming a petty inland commerce. 



