253 



The lamprey is viviparous, and casts her young during 

 the summer, among clefts in the rocks between high and 

 low water generally, where, indeed, the old ones will 

 often be taken by sniggling, as for eels ; but be careful 

 not to let the flood tide overtake you, for it comes in 

 very rapidly in some places ; where the shore is bold 

 especially. 



I have heard that lampreys are sometimes taken in 

 great numbers, when the weather is cold, by putting 

 some ivormsy &c. into the foot of a worsted stocking, 

 which, being thrown into their haunts, will sometimes 

 contain many lampreys. I never saw this practised -, but 

 -am disposed to think better of such a device than I am of 

 angl'mg for this little fish. 



Of the Mullet. 



I consider this fish as the link which joins those that 

 remain in the fresh water for certain periods, with those 

 that appertain exclusively to the sea. The mullet is, in 

 some countries, found in shoals at the distance of a thou- 

 sand miles from the sea, but only in rivers communi- 

 cating therewith : they run up the Ganges as far as its 

 source, stemming the most rapid currents, and swimming, 

 in vast numbers, with their eyes out of the water, snap- 

 ping at small flies, and at such things as may appear 

 eatable. 



With us, however, this fish is never found but near 

 the sea, in such rivers as have flat entrances, on which 

 they are very sportive, and will take most kinds of artifi- 

 cial flies, especially the double-winged, the Hack palmer, 

 and the gnat fly: nevertheless, the best sport is with a 

 natural fly, on a hook not exceeding No. 6, carefully- 

 covered 



