266 A HISTORY OF 



have A black muddy bottom ; the large ones keep at greater depths 

 but Ihe smaller approach the shores, and feed upon whatever living 

 animals they can surprise, or whatever putrid substances they meet 

 with. As they are ravenous, they easily take the bait, yet will not 

 touch it if it be taken up and kept a day or two out of water. Al- 

 most all fish appear much more delicate with regard to a baited hook 

 than their ordinary food. They appear by their manner to perceive the 

 line, and to dread it; but the impulse of their hunger is too great for 

 their caution ; and, even though they perceive the danger, if tho- 

 roughly hungry, they devour the destruction. 



These fish generate in March and April; at which time only they 

 are seen swimming near the surface of the water, several of the males 

 pursuing one female. They adhere so fast together in coition, that 

 the fishermen frequently draw both up together, though only one has 

 been hooked. The females are prolific to an extreme degree ; there 

 having been no less than three hundred eggs taken out of the body of 

 a single ray. The eggs are covered with a tough horny substance, 

 which they acquire in the womb ; for before they descend into that, 

 they are attached to the ovary pretty much in the same manner as in 

 the body of a pullet. From this ovary, or egg-bag, as it is vulgarly 

 called, the fish's eggs drop one by one into the womb, and there re- 

 ceive a shell by the concretion of the fluids of that organ. When 

 come to the proper maturity, they are excluded, but never above one 

 or two at a time, and often at intervals of three or four hours. These 

 eggs, or purses, as the fishermen call them, are usually cast about the 

 beginning of May, and they continue casting during the whole sum- 

 mer. In October, when their breeding ceases, they are exceedingly 

 poor and thin ; but in November they begin to improve, and grow 

 gradually better till May, when they are in the highest perfection. 



It is chiefly during the winter season that our fishermen take them , 

 but the Dutch, who are indefatigable, begin their operations earlier, 

 and fish with better success than we. The method practised by the 

 fishermen of Scarborough is thought to be the best among the Eng- 

 lish ; and, as Mr. Pennant has given a very succinct account of it, I 

 will take leave to present it to the reader. 



"When they go out to fish, each person is provided with three 

 lines : each man's lines are fairly coiled upon a flat oblong piece of 

 wicker-work ; the hooks being baited and placed very regularly in 

 the centre of the coil. Each line is furnished with two hundred and 

 eighty hooks, at the distance of six feet two inches from each other. 

 The hooks are fastened to lines of twisted horse hair, twenty 

 seven inches in length. 



" When fishing, there are always three men in each coble ; and 

 consequently nine of these lines are fastened together, and used as 

 one line, extending in length near three miles, and furnished with 

 above two thousand five hundred hooks. An anchor and a buoy are 

 flxed at the first end of the line, and one more at each end of each 

 man's lines in all, four anchors, and four buoys made of leather or 

 cork. The line is always laid across the current. The tides of flood 

 auc 1 ebb continue an equal time upon our coasts ; and, when undis- 

 turbed by winds, run each way about six hours. They are so rapid 

 that trie fishermen can only shoot and haul their lines a the turn of 



