S5P S H A D. Class IV. 



when drefied in that manner will very nearly intox- 

 icate the eater. 



In Great Britain the Severn affords this fifh in 

 higher perfection than any other river. It makes 

 its firft appearance there in May^ but in very 

 warm feafons in April-, for its arrival, fooner or 

 later, depends much on the temper of the air. It 

 continues in the river about two months, and then 

 is fucceeded by a variet}^ which we fhali have oc- 

 cafion to mention hereafter. 



The Se'-^'ern fhad is efteemed a very delicate fifh 

 about the time of its fird appearance, efpecially in 

 that part of the river that flows by Gloucejier^ where 

 they are taken in net?, and ufually fell dearer than 

 falmon : fome are fent to London^ where the fifh- 

 mongers diflinguifh them from thofe of the Thames^ 

 by the French name of Alofe. 



Whether they fpawn in this river and the IFye is 

 not determined, for their fry has not yet been afcer- 

 tained. The old filli come from the fea into the 

 river in full roe. In the months o^Jiily and Auguft^ 

 multitudes of bleak frequent the river near Glou- 

 cejier\ fome of them are as big as a fmall herring, 

 and thefe the fifherm.en erroneouHy fufpedl to be 

 the fry of the fhad. Numbers of thefe are taken 

 near Gloucefter in thofe nionths only, but none of 

 the emaciated fhad are ever caught in their re- 



turn *. 



• Behn alfo obferves, that none are taken in their return, on 

 Ivs prend en montant centre les rivieres, etjama/s en defaendant. 



The 



