298 A HISTORY OF 



old are as large as one's finger ; that those of two years, are about 

 twice that length ; at three and four years, they are that small kind 

 of mackarel that have neither melts nor roes ; and between five 

 and six, they are those full-grown fish that are served up at our tables. 

 In the same manner, with regard to flat fishes, they tell us, that the 

 turbot and barbel at one year are about the size of a crown-piece ; 

 the second year as large as the palm of one's hand ; and at the fifth 

 and sixth year, they are large enough to be served up at table. Thus 

 it appears that fish are a considerable time in coming to their full 

 growth, and that they are a long time in danger of being destroyed 

 before it comes to their turn to be destroyers.* 



All fish live upon each other, in some state of their existence. 

 Those with the largest mouths, attack and devour the larger kinds ; 

 those whose mouths are less, lie in wait for the smaller fry ; and even 

 those chiefly subsist upon spawn. Of those which live in the ocean 

 of the spinous kinds, the Dorado is the most voracious. This is 

 chiefly found in the tropical climates; and is at once the most active, 

 and the most beautiful of the finny region. It is about six feet long; 

 the back all over enamelled with spots of a bluish green and silver ; 

 the tail and fins of a gold colour ; and all have a brilliancy of tint, 

 that nothing but Nature's pencil. can attain to : the eyes are placed 

 an each side of the head, large and beautiful, surrounded with circles 

 of shining gold. In the seas where they are found, these fish are al- 

 ways in motion, and play round ships in full sail, with ease and secu- 

 rity : for ever either pursuing or pursued, they are seen continually 

 in a state of warfare ; either defending themselves against the shark, 

 or darting after the smaller fishes. Of all others, the Flying-fish 

 most abounds in these seas ; and as it is a small animal, seldom 

 growing above the size of a herring, it is chiefly sought by the dora- 

 do. Nature has furnished each respectively with the powers of pur- 

 suit and evasion. The dorado being above six feet long, yet not 

 thicker than a salmon, and furnished with a full complement of fins, 

 cuts its way through the water with amazing rapidity : on the other 

 hand, the flying-fish is furnished with two pair of fins longer than the 

 body, and these also moved by a stronger set of muscles than any 

 other. This equality of power seems to furnish one of the most en- 

 tertaining spectacles those seas can exhibit. The efforts to seize on 

 the one side, and the arts of escaping on the other, are perfectly 

 amusing. The dorado is seen, upon this occasion, darting after its 

 prey, which will not leave the water, while it has the advantage of 

 swimming, in the beginning of the chase. But, like a hunted hare s 

 being tired at last, it then has recourse to another expedient for safe- 

 ty, by flight. The long fins, which began to grow useless in the wa- 

 ter, are now exerted in a different manner and different direction to 

 that in which they were employed in swimming : by this means, the 

 timid little animal rises from the water, and flutters over its surface, 

 for two or three hundred yards, till the muscles employed in moving 

 the wings, are enfeebled by that particular manner of exertion. By 

 this time, however, they have acquired a fresh power of renewing 

 their eflorts in the water, and the animal is capable of proceeding with 



* Traile des P^ches par Monsieur Duhamel. Sect. 3. p. 100. 



