LAAVE 
Curious FISHES. 
Tuosk OF USE. 
HERRINGS. 
Ni © Rel Mey A oe 
The fithes of this extenfive coaft amount to only one hundred: and-eleven, and’ 
are inferior in number to thofe of Britain by twenty-eight. The fpecies of the 
North Sea which differ from the Briti/b, are not numerous. The depth of water, 
and the forefts of marine plants which cover the bottom of the Norwegian feas, 
are afluredly the caufe of the preference of certain kinds, in their refidence in 
them. Infinite numbers of rare Vermes, Shells, Lithophytes, and Zoophytes, are 
found there, feveral of which, before their difcovery by Bifhop Pontoppidan, were 
the fuppofed inhabitants of only the more remote feas *. Among the fifhes which, 
have hitherto fhunned our fhores, are the Raia Clavata, Aduller, N° 309; Squalus 
Spinax, 312+ 3 Sg. Ceatrina, 313, which extends to the Mediterranean; Chimera 
Monfirofa, 320, a mot fingular fith ; Sygnathus Typhle, and #quoreus, 324, 328; the 
Regalecus Glefve, 335, Afcan. Icon. tab. xi.; Gadus Brofme, 341; G. Dypterygius, or 
Byrve-lange, 346; Blennius Raninus, & Fufcus, 359, 360; Echeneis Remora, 3613 
Coryphena Novacula, & Rupeftris, 362, 3633; Gobius Fox0, 365; Plearoneétes: 
Cynogloffus, Limanda, & Linguatula, 372, 375s 377 3 Sparus Erythrinus, 380 3 Labrus 
Suillus, 381 ; Perca Norvegica, and Lucio-perca, 390, 391 3 Scomber Pelagicus, 3983. 
Silurus Afotus, 4043; Clupea Villofa, 425. 
Thefe are not the fifhes of general ufe. Providence hath, in thefe parts, beftow-~ 
ed with munificence the fpecies which contribute to the fupport of mankind ; and 
made thereby the kingdom of Norway a coaft of hardy fifhermen. The chain of. 
iflands, and the fhores, are the populous parts. It is the fea which yields them a 
harveft ; and near to it ftand all the capital towns: the ftaples of the produce of 
the ocean.on one hand, and of the more thinly inhabited mountains on the other. 
‘The farther you advance inland, the lefs numerous is the race of man, 
The Herring, the Cod, the Ling, and the Salmon, are the maritime wealth of 
this country. The Herring has two emigrations into this fea: the firft is from 
Chrifimas to Candlemas, when.a large fpecies arrives,. preceded by two fpecies of 
Whales, who, by inftin@, wait its coming. The fifhermen poft themfelves on 
fome high cliff, impatiently waiting for the cetaceous fifh, the harbingers of the 
others. They look for them at the moon Torre, or the firft new one after Chri/f-. 
mas, and the moon Gio, which immediately follows. 
Thefe Herrings frequent the great fand-banks, where they depofit their fpawn. 
They are followed by the Spring Herrings, a leffer fith, which approach much nearer 
to the fhore ; after which arrive the Summer Herring, which almoft literally fill. 
every creck: the whole fifhery is of immenfe profit. From "Fanuary to Oéfobers. 
* Seethe Plates in Pontoppidan’s Hift. Norway. 
+ In the Britifb Zoology, iii, No 40. the trivial Spivax is inferted inflead of Acanthias. 
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