214 THE RAY TRIB E^ 



forts are in vain, they swim off with such amazing 

 rapidity, that one instance has occurred of a Basking 

 Shark towing to some distance a vessel of seventy 

 tons burthen against a fresh gale. They some- 

 times run off with two hundred fathoms of line, and 

 two harpoons in them ; and will employ the men 

 from twelve to twenty-four hours before they are 

 subdued. 



As soon as they are killed, the fishermen haul 

 them on shore ; or, if at a distance from land, to the 

 vessel's side, to cut them up and take out the liver, 

 which is the only useful part of their bodies. This 

 is melted into oil in kettles provided for the purpose j 

 and, if the fish is a large one, it will yield eight bar- 

 rels or upwards. 



THE RAY TRIBE. 



THE Rays are entirely confined to the sea ; and, 

 from being destitute of an air-bladder to buoy them^ 

 they live altogether at the bottom, chiefly in deep 

 water, covering themselves in winter in sand or mud. 

 They live on shell-fish, or any animal substances 

 whatever that come in their way. Some of them 

 become of a size so large as to weigh two hundred 

 pounds and upwards j in which case they are some- 

 times dangerous enemies to man, whom they are 

 said to destroy by getting him down, lying upon, 

 and devouring him. They seldom produce more 



