244 NATURALISTS CABINET. 



Timid, though formidable in appearance. 



also declined. The Spaniards, who formerly ap- 

 plied themselves with much assiduity to fishing, 

 likewise monopolized the thunny fishery. Ac- 

 cording to some writers, this fish was formerly 

 so esteemed for the advantages, of commerce 

 \frhich it procured, that the coins of Spain and 

 Italy bore its impression. On the Spanish coast 

 were maintained seventeen tonnaros, the most 

 celebrated of which was that near Conil. In 

 one single day, however, that kingdom lost the 

 rich thunny fishery, which passed into the hands 

 of other nations. This was the memorable day 

 on which the city of Lisbon was destroyed by an 

 earthquake ; whereby a great quantity of sand, 

 and other marine substances, was detached from 

 the African coasts and lodged on those of Eu- 

 rope ; so that the sea on the Spanish shores be- 

 came considerably shallower, while the harbors 

 of Tetuan and Sale in Barbary were emptied out 

 and perfectly cleansed. The ensuing spring, 

 when the thunnies passed from the ocean into 

 the Mediterranean, they found the Spanish 

 shores almost choaked up with sand ; they there- 

 fore kept at such a distance from the coast, that 

 it would have required nets of an immense length 

 to catch them. The Thunny fishery was then 

 transferred to Naples and Sardinia. 



Though this fish appear formidable from its 

 monstrous bulk, yet it is so timid, that when 

 once caught it gives the fishermen very little 

 trouble : for when it perceives the first efforts 



