THE MUSEUM 



NATURAL HISTORY. 



APPENDIX. 



Natives fishing for Halibut on the coast of 

 Greenland. 



The Halibut, or Holibut [Hippoglosstis), is the 

 largest member of the Pleuronectidce family, frequently 

 attainiug, in the Northern seas, the length of seven 

 feet, and weighing between three hundred and four 

 hnndred pounds. In its shape and fins it resembles 

 the flounder, but its body is more elongated ; and its 

 jaws and pharyngeans are armed with strong, pointed 

 teeth. 



Its flesh is dry and coarse, but when salted forms a 

 wholesome provision. Great quantities are caught on 

 the coasts of Norway and Greenland, the natives fish- 

 ing for it, according to Lae^pfede, with an apparatus 

 which they call a gartgaved. This is composed of a 

 hempen cord five or six hundred yards in length, to 

 which are attached some thirty smaller cords, each 

 furnished at the extremity with a barbed hook. The 

 larger rope is fastened to floating planks, which serve 

 to indicate the place of this formidable destructive 

 machine. 



The 'Grecnlanders, instead of hempen cords, use 

 thongs of whalebone or narrow strips of shark's skin. 

 They draw up their lines after fifteen or twenty hours, 

 and usually find five or six large halibuts upon their 

 hooks. 



Some smaller species are found in the Mediter- 

 ranean, but these are fished for in the usual matjner, 

 and not on so wholesale a plan. In several of these 

 the eyes look towards the left side, instead of towards 

 the right, the latter being the ordinary rule of the 

 family ; and in such cases it is said to be " reversed." 



The Halibut, like other flat-fish, is occasionally 

 caught by spearing, a common pitchfork being a very 

 eflective and satisfactory weapon. 



Fishing for Tunny at Madrigue, on the Coast nf 

 Provence. 



In the order of the Labyrinthiform Pharyngeans, 

 BO called in allusion to the peculiar structure of their 

 Buperior pharyngeal boues, the most important family 



is that of the Scombrides, which includes the Tunny 

 {Thynnus vulgaris), the Mackerel {Scomber scombrus), 

 and the Bonito {Thynnus pelamis). 



The Tunny has been at all times esteemed for its 

 edible qualities, and its fishery is still a source of profit 

 to the inhabitants of the northern coasts of the Medi- 

 terranean and the shores of the island of Sicily. In 

 form it bears a general resemblance to the mackerel, 

 but it is larger and fleshier, attaining the length of 

 eight or nine feet, and a weight of five hundred pounds. 

 These, however, are the dimensions of the giants of 

 the genus; in ordinary cases individuals measure about 

 four feet, and their weight is about three hundred 

 pounds. 



The upper part of the body is a bluish black; the 

 belly a light grey, spotted wiih silver white; the first 

 dorsal fin, the pectorals, and the ventrals are black ; 

 the second dorsal fin and the anal, of a light flesh 

 colour, tinted with silver white; the upper and lower 

 finlets, yellowish, tipped with black. 



The Tunny is not confined to the Mediterranean. 

 Every summer and autumn it frequents the coast of 

 Cornwall, bnt it is not often taken, either because it 

 does not swallow a bait, or because the fishermen use 

 no bait that its palate recognizes as acceptable ; while, 

 owing to its size and strength, it is seldom entangled 

 in the nets. It feeds on herrings, pilchards, and pro- 

 bably on most small fishes ; but its favourite prey seems 

 to be the Skipper (Esox sauris), which it compels 

 to seek anoiher element for safety, springing after 

 it to a considerable height, usually across its course, 

 and at the same time attempting to beat it down with 

 its tail. 



It is in the Mediterranean, however, that the Tunny 

 is most abundant, approaching the coast, at some 

 periods of the year, in immense and closely-serried 

 legions, compact as a vast army, which conceal them- 

 selves under the waves, and only indicate their presence 

 and their progress by the swirling motion of the sea. 

 In many localities the accumulated hosts show them- 

 selves in the .spring, wending their way eastward, 

 while in the autumn they are following quite an oppo- 

 site direction. This occurs, for instance, on the coast 

 of Provence. In the neinhliourhood of La Ciotat, s.ays 

 the author of " The Ocean World," a first fishing takea 



