QUALITIES AND VIRTUES OF FISH. 69 



CHAPTER IV. 



On the various opinions on the virtues and effects of Fish, as 

 articles of Food, and, likewise, on their Medicinal Qualities 

 and Virtues. 



. WE beg to premise that the contents of this chapter 

 may possibly present, to many readers, a somewhat desul- 

 tory and unconnected form ; but the chief reason for this 

 is, that the materials themselves are of so varied, acci- 

 dental, and apocryphal a character, that they cannot be 

 reduced to any formal or general rules. There is a multi- 

 tude of opinions, surmises, statements and facts, scattered 

 over more than two score of centuries, and appertaining 

 to various nations ; and to make the entire mass as pleasant 

 reading as possible, it is requisite we should take them in 

 a promiscuous order, and not attempt to burden the 

 judgment with what can scarcely be brought within its 

 province. 



This is a somewhat curious chapter in the history of 

 angling writings, both in Great Britain and on the 

 Continent, relative to the supposed medicinal virtues 

 and fancied charms attributed to particular kinds and 

 parts of fish. What could have led the human mind 

 into this direction it is difficult to conjecture. The sub- 

 ject has never been attempted to be accounted for on 



