310 CARTILAGINOUS FLAT FISH. 



thirteen feet ; but the flesh proved too strong for a 

 European's stomach, though the negroes ate freely of 

 some of its choicest parts. Large as this creature must 

 have appeared upon inspection, it is probable that 

 many of them exceed it in size ; for, as they gene- 

 rally reside at the bottom of the ocean, it is difficult 

 positively to ascertain their growth; but a Norway 

 bishop, famous for the marvellous, asserted that their 

 figure would nearly cover a mile. 



The method of catching this species of fish is both 

 dangerous and fatiguing, and attended with infinite la- 

 bour and toil; but the value of the capture generally 

 repays the fisherman both for his exertion and his 

 pain. The skate and the thomback are excellent eat- 

 ing; but few fish vary so much. in size; and it fre- 

 quently happens, when they are fishing for them, that 

 the fire-flare, the rough-ray, or the torpedo, are caught 

 in the line. To all these animals the fisherman has a 

 mortal antipathy, and, when they are discovered, ab- 

 solutely shudders at their sight: but the fire-flare in- 

 spires him with the greatest degree of terror, from an 

 idea that poison is attached to the spine. Though this 

 weapon has the power of inflicting the greatest anguish, 

 yet there is no reason to suppose, that it is poison which 

 produces pain. « 



The torpedo 4s an animal no less formidable than 

 the fire-flare, though it is difficult to prove how its ef- 

 fects are produced : the body of this fish is almost cir- 

 cular, and thicker than the others of the ray kind : 

 the skin is soft and of a yellowish colour, marked (as 

 are all the class) with large annular spots ; the tail is 

 tapering to the point ; and the weight of the fish is 

 from a quarter to fifteen pounds. To all outward ap- 

 pearance, it is furnished with no extraordinary powers ; 



