MULLET. 83 



than half that number of inches. At length I suc- 

 ceeded in thrusting the net under a leaper, and into 

 it he fell. I carried him to the house, and placed 

 him in a large washing-basin of water, uninjured, 

 though a trifle exhausted ; when I found that I had 

 captured a young individual of the Grey Mullet of 

 our fresh waters. At first he could not maintain his 

 equilibrium, but rolled over and over in his efforts to 

 preserve his back uppermost. As he gained strength, 

 however, he became more at ease ; but was very im- 

 patient, swimming rapidly round and round the basin, 

 projecting his open mouth. Sometimes he would 

 swim rapidly in a perpendicular position, evidently 

 striving to get out, but showing no tendency to leap ; 

 perhaps because there was not sufficient room in the 

 basin to allow him to gain the required impetus. 

 The energy, and muscular power, as well as the 

 strength of instinct displayed by so young a fish (for 

 it was only about three and a half inches long), not 

 having attained more than one-sixth part of its adult 

 dimensions, seemed to me remarkable. I continued 

 to see the little creatures leaping at the cascade all 

 through the summer. 



In the holes and basins of this romantic little 

 river, particularly at the foot of the many falls, large 

 Mullet of the same species lurk, some as much as 

 eighteen inches long. They are often taken by hand ; 

 the negroes plunging their arm into the holes be- 

 neath the bank, and feeling for the fish. They bite 

 freely also at the hook, the most successful bait being 

 a piece of a mellow Avocada pear, in the season. It 

 is one of the most highly esteemed fishes for the 



