196 NATURAL HISTOEY [Fishes. 



courage them to go to sea, send their produce to market, 

 and make them proper returns, we must not hope to see fish- 

 ing flourish in the Orkneys, which, from their situation, might 

 be both valuable for the fish, and for an inexhaustible nur- 

 sery for hardy and experienced seamen. 



Species 4. The Pollack. 



Assellus Huitingo-Pollachius, Wil. Icth. 167. Whiting Pollack, RaiiSyn. Pise, 

 53. Gadus Pollachius, Lin. Sys. 429 Ore. Lyth or Ly-Fish. 



THESE are not found so common as the others, yet are 

 frequently caught close in with the shore, almost among the 

 sea-ware, and in deep holes amongst the rocks. They seem 

 to be a very frolicksome fish, as is observed by the natural his- 

 torians*. I have been several times fishing them, when they 

 would keep a constant plashing on the water. They bite 

 keenly, scarce allowing the hook to be in the water, before 

 one or other jumps at it. 



They are better for eating than the coal-fish ; but do not 

 know whether they are ever dried or preserved otherwise, as 

 the quantity caught is scarce worth curing. 



The general appearance of this fish is like the former, only 

 the back, as it comes out of the water, is a most beautiful 

 green, but it soon loses that colour; the side line is much crook- 



* Vide Pen. Brit. Zool. 154. 



