OF SPINOUS FISHES IN GENERAL, 235 



condueled, even to a day* A fhoal of haddocks often extends from the 

 ftiore three miles in breadth, and in length forty. Its limits are pre- 

 cifely known ; for if the fifhermen put down their lines more than three 

 miles from (hore, they catch nothing but dog-fi(h ; a proof the haddock 

 is not there. 



HERRINGS and PILCHARDS are in greateft abundance in the 

 higheft northern Teas, covered with ice great part of the year, whither 

 neither man, the fin-fifli, or the cachalot, dares purfue them. The 

 quantity of infect food thofe feas fupply, is very great ; fo that, defended 

 by the rigid climate, they live at cafe, and multiply beyond expreflion. 

 Anderfon fuppofes they would never depart, but that their numbers 

 render migration neceffary ; and, as bees in a hive, they arc compelled 

 to feek other retreats. 



They quit the icy fca about the middle of winter, in fuch numbers, 

 that were all the men in the world loaded with herrings, they would not 

 carry a thoufandth part away : but they barely leave their retreats, ere 

 millions of enemies thin their fquadrons. The fin-fi{h and the cachalot 

 fwallow thoufands at a yawn ; the porpeflfe, the grampus, the fhark, the 

 whole tribe of dog-fi(h, find them an eafy prey : the unnumbered flocks 

 of fea-fowl that chiefly inhabit near the Pole, watch their outfet, and 

 fpread extenfive ruin. Thus furrounded, they feek fafety by crowding 

 together, leaving to the outmofl: the danger of being firfl: devoured, 

 like Iheep when frighted : they feparate into flioals, one of which moves 

 wefl:, along the coafts of America, as far as Carolina. In Chefapeak bay, 

 the annual inundation of thefe fifh is fo great, that they become a nui- 

 fance. Thofe that hold to the Eafl:, come down the coafl: of Iceland in 

 the beginning of March ; their phalanx, though after confiderable di- 

 minutions, of amazing extent, depth, and clofencfs, covering an extent 

 as large as the ifland itfelf. The whole water feems alive, and is black 

 with them to a great diftance. A fliovel, or hollow vcflTel, put into the 

 water, takes them up without farther trouble. That body which vifits 

 our coafts, appears off the Shetland ifles in April. This is the fore- 

 runner of the grand flioal in June, whofe arrival is announced by the 

 number of gannets, gulls, iharks, and porpeffes. The main body, of 

 fuch breadth and depth as to alter the appearance of the ocean, is divid- 

 ed into columns, five or fix miles long, three or four broad ; the water 

 before them curls up as if forced from its bed. Sometimes they fink for 

 ten or fifteen minutes, then rife again to the fufface ; and, in bright 

 weather, refled a variety of fplendid colours, purple, gold, and azure, 



R r 2 The 



