60 



Gleanings, first scries.) Some peculiar sorts of food are 

 necessary to the growth, and even life, of several kinds of 

 fishes at this important period of their lives : a circumstance 

 that will explain many of their habits and migrations ; and I 

 hare noticed that the absence of sand will effectually hinder 

 the growth of the Grey Mullet for many months, whereas 

 when favourably situated their advance in bulk is moderately 

 rapid. The stomach of this fish acts as a gizzard, and I have 

 taken two table spoonsful of sand from this organ in a full 

 grown individual. 



The adult size of most fishes is not attained until the third 

 year, and few increase in size after four or five ; while the 

 Stickleback may be judged to be only one of many that do 

 not survive their third or fourth year, and the Tunny, with 

 some Sharks and Rays, live and grow for a much longer period 

 than is usual with other inhabitants of the ocean. 



Most fishes are gregarious in the first stages of their exist- 

 ence — chiefly perhaps from the circumstance of awaking to 

 life within a near distance of each other. But the danger of 

 extermination to which they are thus exposed, is counterba- 

 lanced by the transparency of their texture, which enables 

 them to escape detection; :iud by passing into more shallow 

 water, where with the enjoyment of superior warmth, they 

 are free from the presence of the more ravenous tribes. It 

 is in this situation and at those seasons that they are exposed 

 to their most formidable enemy, man, with his nets and en- 

 gines; and therefore now is the time when the legislature 

 Slight interpose with propriety, in preventing that destruction 

 which is sapping the foundation of an important national in- 

 terest, and enhancing the price of what ought to be a cheap, 

 as it is an wholesome food, esteemed by most, and essential 

 to the existence of the poorer inhabitants of our sea ports. 



In forming our opinion on this subject, which embraces 

 many conflicting interests and feelings, we must be careful not 

 to be led by the idea that the value and consequent legislative 

 importance of fishes should be estimated by the rank in which 

 the separate species may be regarded by the merchant or for 

 the table ; for the presence on our coasts of the larger and 

 more esteemed kinds is altogether dependent on that of others 

 which separately viewed, appear unworthy of regard; and 

 the protection of the Launce, the Skulpin and the Mackarel 

 Midge, with others of the most inferior races of marine ani- 

 mals unnoticed by all but the scientific naturalist, is of no less 

 consequence than that of the Codfish, Pilchard, Mackarel, or 

 Turbot. 



It is a question, then, of national importance, what methods 

 of fishing are to be allowed or forbidden, and at what seasons 

 Uiev may be destructive or otherwise. 



