THE SHEEPSHEAD 



201 



him how brilliantly they show, and make you think of the 

 dying dolphin, and of old Arion ! and when he reposes at the 

 head of the table fit place for him beautiful, though boiled, 

 how heartfelt is the homage he receives from all around! 

 Truly, it is libel on him, to call by the same name this Paria 

 of the lakes. 



" And yet our fish is vigorous, and not altogether destitute 

 of beauty, to the eye at least of those who know him not. Is 

 it not chronicled, that at Black-Rock, a strange angler once 

 bartered away two noble basse for two large sheepsheads, 

 which, for the nonce, were called white basse ? The 

 freckled toad, ugly and venomous, wears yet a precious 

 jewel in his head' and our fish, in his clumsy cranium 

 wears two small loose bones, serrate, and white and polished, 

 which must have some use to him, some wondrous adapta- 

 tion to his mode of life, which, when unfolded, will prove 

 that he is not unregarded by Him who made the great whales 

 and the fishes of the sea. 



" His mouth is paved with large, flat, rough bones, or 

 teeth, like those of the sea fishes that root up and devour the 

 hardest testaceae : and, I have little doubt but that the natu- 

 ralist who watches him narrowly, will one of these days de- 

 tect him crushing and consuming the Uni and Anadontas 

 the fresh clams of our muddy flats and sandy bars. 



" He bites at the worm, the minnow, the chub, the lob- 

 ster, and makes good play with the line, though he gives in 

 more quickly than the basse. An experienced angler can 

 generally distinguish his bite and his resistance but the 

 most knowing ones are sometimes taken in, and think him 

 basse until he is fairly brought to view. 



"When you have caught him, let any one who will accept 

 him, have him ; and take to thyself no merit for the gift. His 

 meat is more like leather than fish or flesh. It is a common 

 saving, that the more you cook him the tougher he becomes; 



