THE COMMON SUCKING-FISH. 14! 



Turning its powers in a very different way, the 

 ancients also fancied that, in what manner soever it 

 was administered, it was fatal in affairs of love, 

 deadening the warmest affections of both sexes *. 



The Indians of Jamaica and Cuba formerly used 

 the Sucking-fish in the catching of others, some- 

 what in the same manner as hawks are employed 

 by a falconer in seizing birds. They kept them 

 for the purpose, and had them regularly fed. The 

 owner, on a calm morning, would cany one of them 

 out to sea, secured to his canoe by a small but 

 strong line, many fathoms in length ± and the mo- 

 ment the creature saw a fish in the water, though at 

 a great distance, it would dart away with the swift- 

 ness of an arrow, and soon fasten upon it. The 

 Indian, in the mean time, loosened and let go the 

 line, which was provided with a buoy that kept on 

 the surface of the sea, and marked the course the 

 Sucking-fish had taken ; and he pursued it in his 

 canoe, until he perceived his game to be nearly 

 exhausted and run down. — He then, taking up the 

 buoy, gradually drew the line towards the shore ; 

 the Sucking-fish still adhering with so inflexible a 

 tenacity to his prey as not easily to be removed. 

 Oviedo says he has known turtle taken by this mode 

 of a bulk and weight that no single man could 

 support. 



These fish are often eaten, and in taste they are 

 said very greatly to resemble fried artichokes f. 



Pliny, lib. ix. c. 25. + St. Piute's Isle of France, 30. 



