FISHES. 241 



The history of fishes furnishes many curious examples of 

 certain kinds being held in high estimation in some places as 

 food, and quite despised in others. This is the case with the 

 Rays, of which there are eight native species. In the London 

 market they are much valued, and in some parts of the coasts 

 they are considered delicate and well-flavoured; while, in other 

 localities, they are not used at all, or employed only as hait 

 for catching crahs and lobsters. Colonel Montagu mentions a 

 similar fact respecting the Sand-eel, known as the Sand Launce 

 (Ammodytes Lancea). At Teignmouth it was in great request 

 as food, while on another part of the south coast of Devon- 

 shire it would not he eaten even by the poorest people. 



The Dog-fish of our own coasts belong to the family of the 

 Sharks (Squalidce). In these rapacious fishes " as among the 

 truly predacious birds, the females are larger than the males; 

 and almost all the species have received some name resembling 

 Beagle, Hound, Rough Hound, Dog-fish, Spotted Dog, &c. 

 probably from their habit of following their prey, or hunting 

 in company or packs. All the Sharks are exceedingly tenacious 

 of life. Their skins, which are of very variable degrees of 

 roughness, according to the species, are used for different pur- 

 poses; in some instances by cabinet-makers, for bringing up 

 and smoothing the surfaces of hard wood."* 



The Small-spotted Dog-fish (Scyllium Canicula, Fig. 196), 



Fig. 196. SMALL-SPOTTED DOG-FISH. 



the species most abundant on our shores, is an object of great 

 dislike to fishermen, who try in various ways to avenge the 

 injury which they believe it causes to their fishing. In tropical 

 seas, the capture of the White or of the Blue Shark, the terror 

 of mariners, is always to them a source of great exultation. 

 The first act of the sailors, when their enemy is hauled up on 



* Yarrell, vol. ii. p. 369. 



