THE SHEEPSHEAD 201 



him — how brilliantly they show, and make you think of the 

 dying dolphin, and of old Arion ! and when he reposes at the 

 head of the table — fit place for him — beautiful, though boiled, 

 how heartfelt is the homage he receives from all around ! 

 Truly, it is libel on him, to call by the same name this Paria 

 of the lakes. 



" And yet our fish is vigorous, and not altogether destitute 

 of beauty, to the eye at least of those who know him not. Is 

 it not chronicled, that at Black-Eock, a strange angler once 

 bartered away two noble basse for two large sheepsheads, 

 which, for the nonce, were called white basse ? ' The 

 Ireckled toad, ugly and venomous, wears yet a precious 

 jewel in his head ' — and our fish, in his clumsy cranium 

 wears two small loose bones, serrate, and white and polished, 

 which must have some use to him, some wondrous adapta- 

 tion to his mode of life, which, when unfolded, will prove 

 that he is not unregarded by Him who made the great whales 

 and the fishes of the sea. 



" His mouth is paved with large, flat, rough bones, or 

 teeth, like those of the sea fishes that root up and devour the 

 hardest testacea? : and, I have little doubt but that the natu- 

 ralist who watches him narrowly, will one of these days de- 

 tect him crushing and consuming the Uni and Anadontas — 

 the fresh clams of our muddy flats and sandy bars. 



" He bites at the worm, the minnow, the chub, the lob- 

 ster, and makes good play with the line, though he gives in 

 more quickly than the basse. An experienced angler can 

 generally distinguish his bite and his resistance — but the 

 most knowing ones are sometimes taken in, and think him 

 basse until he is fairly brought to view. 



" When you have caught him, let any one who will accept 

 him, have him ; and take to thyself no merit for the gift. His 

 meat is more like leather than fish or flesh. It is a common 

 saving, thnt the more vou cook him the tougher he becomes; 



