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they again return to their northern latitudes, 

 there to remain until they are excited by all- 

 powerful instinct to seek our warmer climes, in 

 order to mature and vivify their countless spawn. 

 When they first set out, the number of them 

 is so considerable, that they extend over a space 

 of many miles ; but meeting with enemies, their 

 numbers are diminished, and they separate in- 

 to two divisions, the one going to the west, the 

 other to the east. The former pressing onward 

 reaches the coast of Ireland in March, arid then 

 turning still more westerly, proceeds to the Ame- 

 rican coast. The latter taking their course to- 

 wards the south, again divides into two columns, 

 the one descending along the coast of Norway 

 into the Baltic ; while the other, turning to the 

 west, visits the Orkneys arid Shetland, where it 

 is a third time divided, one wing taking to the 

 east, the other to the western shores of Britain. 

 But it is needless to pursue this subject, of which 

 much is riot known with certainty : surely it is 

 sufficient for us to reflect, with awe and vene- 

 ration, upon the beneficence of that Almighty 

 Power who has impressed certain instincts upon 

 this most useful of aquatic creatures, which guide 

 and direct them to leave the vast polar seas at 

 certain seasons of the year, that they may visit 

 our shores, and bring with them wealth and food 

 to expecting thousands. There can be no doubt 

 that their instinct leads them to our seas to de- 

 posit their spawn. It is an erroneous idea that 

 they come hither in search of food, of which 



