FOOD PRODUCTS OF THE SEA — FISHES. 317 



the other two being the ringtail pigeon and the moun- 

 tain or black land-crab. Almost all writers on Jamaica 

 have united in praising the variety, abundance and 

 superior quality of its sea and river fish. " 



Sharlis as Food. — Sharks are more commonly eaten as 

 human food than is generally supposed. In parts of 

 India their flesh is much valued and said to be very 

 palatable and nutritious. By seamen they are often 

 eaten as a change of food on board ship. 



The picked or common dog-fish (Acanthia-s vulgaris; 

 Squalus acanihias), if salted and dried, affords very fair 

 food. At Folkestone it is known as " Folkestone beef." 

 In the west of Cornwall the flesh of the rough-horned 

 or lesser spotted dog-fish (Sm/llium catulus) is used some- 

 times to make what is called " Morghi " soup. 



The flesh of the picked dog-fish is also sometimes 

 eaten in the northern countries fresh, but must be 

 skinned before being cooked. It is also dried like split 

 stock fish for consumption in Norway as well as for 

 export to Sweden, where it is greatly appreciated. The 

 fishermen on the coasts of France salt the flesh of Squalus 

 caniculata and S. galeiis for winter use. 



At Morecambe Bay the fishermen contrive to sell all 

 the dog-fish they can catch, which are sent to Blackburn 

 and Preston for food, and are known as "Darwen 

 salmon." It is stated that the people of these two towns 

 like them much, and the fishermen obtain ks high a price 

 for them as for skate. 



In Norway the flesh of the Greenland shark {Sci/mmis 

 horealis) is occasionally used for human food, being cut 

 up into long strips and dried in the open air or buried 

 in the ground until partially decomposed, when it is 

 taken up and prepared in a peculiar manner, so as to 

 become edible. It requires, however, an Arctic stomach 

 to digest it. 



Bosman tells us that the negroes eat sharks on the 

 Gold Coast and to make their flesh tender they " lay 

 them a rotting and stinking for seven or eight days 

 after which they are greedily eaten as a delicacy." 



