PREFACE. 



THE geographical situation of the British Islands renders 

 a knowledge of the productions of the numerous and valuable 

 fisheries by which they are surrounded a subject worthy of 

 inquiry to every one interested in the welfare of his country. 



The large and constant supply of excellent food obtained 

 from the seas all round the coast by moderate labour and 

 expense, and the employment afforded to a numerous and 

 valuable class of men, who become not only good seamen, 

 but able pilots, since the successful exercise of their occupa- 

 tion depends on an intimate knowledge of the nature of the 

 ground surface, the situation of banks and channels, with 

 the particular direction and force of tides and currents, render 

 the British fisheries also, in many points of view, a branch of 

 political economy of great national importance. 



It has long, however, been matter of general regret that 

 the subjects of this particular branch of natural history, so 

 valuable as articles of food and commerce, and so interesting 

 from their organization, and the peculiarities and beauty of 

 their varied forms and colours, should, with the exception of 

 those inhabiting the fresh water, and the marine species most 

 in request for the table, be almost wholly unknown. 



Bewick^s work, illustrated with engravings on wood of 

 unrivalled excellence, may justly claim the distinguished 

 merit of having done more towards rendering Ornithology 

 popular in this country than any other book that could be 

 named ; and it was hoped that this eminent artist would have 

 devoted his great talents to the delineation of the subjects of 



