263 



water near a fire, they soon begin to exhibit sym- 

 toms of reanimation ; the fins quiver, the gills 

 open, the fish gradually turns itself on its belly* 

 and moves slowly round the vessel, till at length 

 completely revived, it swims briskly about. 



Of all migrating animals, fish make the longest 

 journeys, and, in common with all, are probably 

 actuated in doing so by instinctive feelings excit- 

 ing them thus to seek for food, a comfortable 

 temperature of air, or places adapted for the pro- 

 pagation of their species. 



Fish constitutes a considerable portion of the 

 food of men. This is peculiarly the case among 

 savage nations, and the poor of all countries ; 

 and hence, it becomes a matter of no small im- 

 portance to consider the best modes of preserv- 

 ing a regular supply. Embankments and other 

 works upon rivers have contributed not a little 

 to diminish the number of fish, and thus it has 

 become an object with some to localize them in 

 lakes and ponds, and to introduce new species 

 into the country, these being far more easily ac- 

 climated than either birds, quadrupeds or plants. 

 When fishes are transported from a hot climate, 

 where the waters never freeze, to one where oc- 

 casionally their surface is converted into ice, they 

 avoid the inconveniences of the change by seek- 

 ing the depths of the pools. At certain seasons 

 all climates furnish a temperature sufficient to 

 enable them to breed, a peculiarity which na- 

 ture seems to have denied both to quadrupeds 

 and birds and thus great advantages are offered 



2 M 



