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On the sides of this fish are dark marks 

 or streaks, such as would be left by the hand 

 if immersed in colour, whence it derives the 

 name of Fingering. Some contend that they 

 never exceed in length eight inches, or in 

 weight a quarter of a pound ; whilst others 

 assert that, on visiting the sea, they change 

 their form in some points, lose the dark marks 

 on their sides, and return to the rivers seve- 

 ral pounds in weight. In corroboration of 

 their growth, a gentleman of the greatest 

 respectability assured the compiler that he 

 has frequently taken them from the river by 

 means of a casting net, and turned them into 

 a pool, through which the stream of a moun- 

 tain rivulet passed, and that they throve 

 wonderfully, and exceeded the weight of a 

 pound in a short space of time. As opinions 

 respecting this fish are so various, it is sur- 

 prising that some experienced naturalist has 

 not directed his attention to the observation 



G 



