FISHES DIAGRAM 5 



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The tunny and the mackerel. The tunny is a large fish which 

 sometimes reaches the length of a yard and a half. It is not 

 very common on our coasts, but they fish for it in the Mediterra 

 nean, where it appears in large shoals. It much resembles the 

 mackerel. It is taken either with lines or nets, in which a great 

 number are killed by the blows of a boathook. 



The mackerel is especially abundant in the Atlantic Ocean, and 

 in the Channel ; and is one of the most important of our English 

 fish ; as it is frequently taken in enormous quantities. 



The stickleback. This is a very little fish which lives in ponds, 

 rivers and brooks. It may be known by the spiiio.; on its back 



and sides. It erects 

 them when it is 

 threatened, and in- 

 flicts painful wounds 

 with them, though 

 not venomous ones, 

 as was formerly be- 



Stickleback and Nest. lieved. Sticklebacks 



are active, and assume in Spring very fine blue and red colours 

 which they lose. They make true nests at the bottom of the 

 water, they collect small pebbles and weeds, and lay their eggs 

 there, which both parents watch unceasingly. They never ab- 

 sent themselves, and keep the water in constant agitation near 

 the nest. It is easy to observe all this in shallow pools, or in 

 rivers overhung by trees, if they are approached carefully, and 

 without frightening them. 



The Cod. Of all fish used for human food, the cod-fish is that 



which is taken in greatest 

 abundance. Every year 

 the various European ports 

 despatch hundredsof vessels 

 Cod - to fish for cod on the 



American Coast. They are found on our shores, but not in 

 sufficient abundance for a ship to be rapidly loaded with them. 



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