THE BASKING SHARK. 213 



probably strayed from the rest. They appear in the 

 Firth of Clyde, and among the Hebrides about mid- 

 summer, in small droves of seven or eight, or more 

 commonly in pairs. Here they continue till the lat- 

 ter end of July, when they disappear. 



Their food seems to consist entirely of marine 

 plants and some of the species of Medusas. They 

 swim very deliberately, and generally with their 

 upper fins above water. Sometimes they may be 

 seen sporting about among the waves, and leaping 

 several feet above the surface. 



The liver is of such immense size as frequently to 

 weigh near a thousand pounds. From this a great 

 quantity of good oil is extracted ; which renders this 

 Shark an animal of considerable importance to the 

 Scotch fishermen : for, according to Anderson, the 

 oil of a single fish will sometimes sell for twenty or 

 thirty pounds sterling. 



The natives of our northern coasts are very alert 

 in the pursuit, and very dexterous in the killing, of 

 these fish. When pursued; they do not accelerate 

 their motion till the boat comes almost in contact 

 with them, when the harpooner strikes his weapon 

 into the body as near the gills as he can. They 

 seem not very susceptible of pain ; for they often re- 

 main in the same place till the united strength of two 

 men is exerted to force the harpoon deeper. As 

 soon as they perceive themselves wounded they 

 plunge headlong to the bottom; and frequently coil 

 the rope round their bodies in agony, attempting to 

 disengage themselves from the fatal instrument by 

 rolling on the ground. Discovering that these cf- 



P3 



