PILCHARD. 



109 



As an appropriate conclusion to this account of the Pil- 

 chard fishery of Cornwall, derived principally from the MS. 

 of Mr. Couch, the vignette at the bottom of the page is a 

 representation of the harbour of Polperro, near which Mr. 

 Couch has long resided : and I take this opportunity of re- 

 cording my obligations to that gentleman, not only for his 

 great liberality in allowing me the unlimited use of his volu- 

 minous MS. of the Natural History of the Fishes which have 

 been found on the coasts and in the rivers of Cornwall, with 

 an extensive series of characteristic drawings, but also for the 

 warm interest and substantial support afforded to this work 

 during its progress. 



While this sheet was going through the press, the London 

 newspapers noticed the appearance of numerous large shoals 

 of Pilchards on the south coast of Ireland, which the poor 

 fishermen were unable to take advantage of from the want of 

 proper nets and salt. 



