FISHES DIAGRAM 5. 101 



herring, for instance, we must place it in a position which it never 

 takes itself the dark side to the right, and the pale side to the 

 left ; and then we shall see that all the parts, except the eyes, are 

 in the same position as in the mackerel. The tail is vertical ; the 

 bones directed above and below ; the mouth is horizontal, and 

 the gills and the intestines have their usual position. These fish 

 are, therefore, animals which live on one side and swim on one side. 

 They are all very good for food. 



The Eel. This fish inhabits the sea, the rivers, and even the 

 smallest ditches ; it will even live in a bucket or a pan. It can 

 be reared thus, and will grow for years, and reach its largest size, 

 or about a yard long. The eel feeds on small fish, worms, and 

 frogs. In the spring time we see large rivers full of pro- 

 digious quantities of very small and nearly transparent eels, 

 which make their way up the stream towards its source. 

 They can then be taken by thousands, by merely dipping 

 with buckets. Eels, like several other fish, have no scales on the 

 skin ; this is used to make thongs, which are valued for their 

 toughness. A fish is caught in the sea which is very like the 

 eel, the conger eel ; it is, however, much larger, and not so long 

 in proportion sometimes growing to the thickness of the thigh. 



The Sturgeon. This is a large fish, the body of which is 

 covered with plates of bone as rough as files. Its head is pro- 

 longed in front, and beneath it is a narrow mouth, and it can 

 only feed on small marine animals, in spite of its large size. It 

 lives in the sea, but it breeds in rivers, where they fish for it. Its 

 flesh and eggs are articles of great trade in Kussia. "The eggs 



Sturgeon. 



are sold under the name of caviare. Lastly, they make isinglass 

 of its swimming bladder, which is used in many trades. The 



