338 FISHING IN AMERICAN WATERS. 



resting-place for their victorious industry. Nor is the equi- 

 noctial heat more discouraging to them than the accumulated 

 winter of both poles. We learn that while some of them 

 draw the line or strike the harpoon on the coast of Africa, 

 others run the longitude and pursue their gigantic game 

 along the coast of Brazil. No sea but what is vexed witli 

 their fisheries no climate that is not witness of their toils. 

 Neither the perseverance of Holland, nor the activity of 

 France, nor the dexterous and firm sagacity of English enter- 

 prise, ever carried this most perilous mode of hardy industry 

 to the extent to which it has been pursued by this recent 

 people a people who are still in the gristle, and not harden- 

 ed into manhood." 



THE STRIPED RED MULLET. 



The striped red mullet, a beautiful fish of a pale pink col- 

 or, but somewhat larger than the one known to the Romans, 

 is found in considerable numbers on the English coasts. The 

 mullets, like the cod and some other fish which feed in deep 

 water, are furnished with long feelers attached to the lower 

 jaw, supposed to be delicate organs of touch, by which these 

 fish are enabled to select their food on the muddy bottoms. 

 This fish is more gamy than the golden mullet of the Ameri- 

 can borders of the Atlantic, but it is vastly inferior for the 

 table. 



STRIPED BED MULLET. Mullus surmuletus. 



