MITCHILL ON THE FISHES OF NEW-YORK. 395 



head is a very stout fish, and the hooks and lines are strong in propor- 

 tion. Yet he frequently breaks them, and makes his escape. Sheep's 

 head have been caught with such fishing tackle fastened to their jaws. 

 When the line or hook gives way, the accident makes a serious impres- 

 sion upon the company. As the possession of the sheep's head is a 

 grand prize, so his escape is felt as a distressing loss. I knew an ancient 

 fisherman who used to record, in a book, the time, place, and circum- 

 stance of every sheep's head he had caught. 



This fish is sometimes speared by torch-light; in the wide and shallow 

 bays of Queen's county and Suffolk. 



The places where he is found in the greatest abundance are about 

 forty miles from the city. He soon dies after being removed from his 

 element, and in such sultry weather, soon spoils after death. They, 

 therefore, remove his entrails, lay him in the water of the coldest 

 springs and brooks, and transport him to market during the coolness 

 of night, with all possible speed, in wagons. Yet, after all, he is too 

 frequently decayed or tainted before dinner time, and thrown away as 

 unfit to eat. 



When ice houses shall be established near the fishing places, and along 

 the roads, sheep's head will be brought to New-York in perfection. 

 The transportation of sea fish, in a frozen state, from Long-Branch, m 

 New-Jersey, to Philadelphia, has afforded, to the Pennsylvanians, the 

 specious argument, that their sea basse and black fish, after a transpor- 

 tation of fifty miles by land, are really preferable to the sickly, wounded, 

 lingering, and emaciated fish of New-York. 



It is to be regretted the sheep's head too often corrupts for want 

 of ice. 



Rays, Br. 4. V. 6. P. 6. D. 24. A. 13. C. 19. 



