FISHES. 551 



some to be driven upon our coasts rather by their fears than 

 their appetites ; and it is to the pursuit of the larger fishes we 

 owe their welcome visits. It is much more probable, that they 

 come for that food which is found in more plenty near the shore 

 than farther out at sea. One thing is remarkable, that their 

 migrations seem to be regularly conducted. The grand shoal 

 of haddocks that comes periodically on the Yorkshire coasts, 

 appeared there in a body on the tenth of December, 17G6; and 

 exactly on the same day in the following year. This shoal ex- 

 tended from the shore near three miles in breadth, and in length 

 for more than forty. The limits of a shoal are precisely known ; 

 for if the fishermen put down their lines at the distance of more 

 than three miles from shore, they catch nothing but dog-fish ; a 

 jiroof that the haddock is not three. 



But of all migrating fish, the herring and the pilchard take the 

 most adventurous voyages. Herrings are found in the greatest 

 abundance in the highest northern latitudes. In those inac- 



pourids. Besides these there is another mode of fishing- for mackarel, in the 

 we&t of England, «ith a ground-ieine . A roll of rope of about two hun. 

 dred fathoms in leng-th, with the net fastened to the end, is tied at the other 

 to a post or rock on the shore. The boat is then rowed to the extremity of 

 this coil, when a pole fixed there, leaded heavily at the bottom, is thrown 

 overboard. The rowers from hence make, as nearly as possible, a semicircle, 

 two men continually and regularly putting the net into the water. When 

 they come to the other end of the net, where there is another leaded pole, 

 they throw that overboard. Another coil of rope, similar to the first, is by 

 degrees thrown into the water, as the boatmen make for the shore. The 

 boat's crew now land, and with the assistance of persons stationed there, 

 haul in each end of the net till they come to the two poles. The boat is then 

 again pushed off towards the centre of the net, in order to prevent the mor« 

 vigorous fish from leaping over the corks. By these means three or four 

 liUDdred fish are often caught at one haul. 



Mackarel are said to be fond of human flesh. Pontoppidon informs ua, 

 that a sailor, belonging to a ship lying in one of the harbo'irs on the coast 

 of Norway, went into the water to wash himself, when he waa suddenly 

 missed by his companion.". In the course of a few minutes, however, ho 

 was seen on the surface, with vast numbers of these fish fastened on him. 

 The people went in a boat to his assistance ; and tliotigh, when they got 

 liiin up, they forced with some difficulty the fishes from him, they found it 

 was too late ; for the poor fellow shortly afterwards expired. 



The roes of the mackarel are used in the Mediterranean for caviiir. Tlio 

 blood and slime are first wsLshed oft with vinegar, and the sinews and skinny 

 part-s taken away, lliey are tlien spread out for a short time to dry, 

 and afterwards salted and hung up in a net, to drain some of the remaininjf 

 moisture from them. When this is liuishcd tliey are laid in a kind of sieve, 

 until they are thoroughly dry, and fit fur u.su. 



