228 NATURAL HISTORY [Fishes. 



I have not the least doubt but many other both curious 

 and valuable fish are to be found here, though they have 

 not yet come to my knowledge, as it is scarce possible for 

 any one person to investigate all, though ever so diligent ; 

 and here, though indolence prevails very much, yet we 

 are much fonder of ordinary than curious fish, and many of 

 the latter, though taken, are never perhaps brought ashore, 

 but immediately thrown overboard, or, if they are brought 

 ashore, little minded. If, therefore, a set of intelligent people, 

 at different places of the country, would take the trouble of 

 observing, and of communicating their observations to each 

 other, this would have a great effect to form a complete natur- 

 al history of particular places, from which might be compiled 

 a general history of the whole islands of Britain ; but this 

 never can be done by one, without the help of many. 



