LETTER LIV. 



The longevity of fishes, however, is less astonish- 

 ing than their singular fecundity. A single cod fish 

 is said to produce at a birth, if they escaped depreda- 

 tion, no fewer than nine millions of young, a number 

 equal to that of the inhabitants of all England. The 

 flounder produces at once above a million, and the 

 mackarel not less than five hundred thousand. From 

 this abundant fecundity, as it has been already ob- 

 served, the predatory system of fishes is supported, 

 and their aliment supplied. 



Fishes arc generally divided into the cetaceous, or 

 whale kind; the cartilaginous, or gristly kind; the 

 spinous fishes, so called from the resemblance which 

 their bones have to sharp thorns ; and the testaceous 

 kind, which are distinguished by being covered with 

 shells instead of scales. 



It is not my intention, my dear Sir, to trouble you 

 with a nomenclature of a race of animals far remote 

 from general observation, and with most of which 

 you will, in all probability, never have an opportunity 

 of being acquainted. I shail, on the contrary, select 

 for your contemplation, such as are of the greatest 

 importance in commerce, and of the greatest utility 

 to man, or by reason .of some remarkable property 

 peculiarly interesting. 



THE WHALE 



may, with propriety, be reckoned one of the most in- 

 teresting of those animals which have their residence 

 in the deep. If we consider its stupendous size, it 

 must be regarded as one of the greatest curiosities of 

 animated nature; and if its commercial importance be 

 justly appreciated, it will be esteemed an -object wor- 

 thy of the attention and examination both of the na- 

 turalist, the politician, and the merchant. 



Of tiie whale kind their are seven species, of which 

 the great grcenland 'wh'die, and the spermaceti whale, 

 or cachaloi, are the most important in commerce, 

 iuid to tins country are even a national concern. 



THE G a E A T G 11 E E N L A N I ) \V II ALE 



is that fish, for the catching of which such vast pre- 

 parations are made in different parts of Europe, and 



G 



