PISCATORIAL REMINISCENCES 

 AND GLEANINGS. 



I HAVE inserted a few preliminary observations 

 upon the structure, body, and senses of Fishes, 

 culled from Cuvier, and Dr. Roget's admirable 

 work, " Animal and Vegetable Physiology," &c. 

 &c. EDITOR. 



THE body of a fish is nearly of the same specific 

 gravity as the water it inhabits. The effect of gra- 

 vity is therefore almost wholly counterbalanced 

 by the buoyant force of that fluid ; for the weight 

 of a mass of water equal in bulk to the body 

 itself, is the exact measure of this buoyant force. 

 If this weight were precisely the same as that of 

 the fish, the animal would be able to remain sus- 

 pended in any part of the fluid without the neces- 

 sity of employing any voluntary motion or exer- 

 tion for that purpose ; but as the body of a fish is 

 generally a little heavier than the fluid medium. 



