Lieutenant Paterson’s Account r *&c. 383 
The ifland of Johanna is fituated in latitude 12 0 13' fouth. 
The coaft is wholly compofed of coral rocks, which are in 
many places hollowed by the fea. In thefe cavities I found 
feveral of the eleftrical fifhes. The water is about 56° or 6o° 
of heat of Fahrenheit’s thermometer. I caught two of 
them in a linen bag, clofed up at one end, and open at the 
other. In attempting to take one of them in my hand, it 
gave me fo fevere an eleCtrical Ihock, that I was obliged to 
quit my hold. I however fecured them both in the linen bag, 
and carried them to the camp, which was about two miles 
diftant. Upon my arrival there, one of them was found to be 
dead, and the other in a very weak ftate, which made me 
anxious to prove, by the evidence of others, that it pofTefled 
the powers of electricity, while it was yet alive. I had it put 
into a tub of water, and defired the Surgeon of the regiment 
to lay hold of it between his hands ; upon doing which he 
received an evident eleCtrical ftroke. Afterwards the Adjutant 
touched it with his finger upon the back, and felt a very flight 
fhock, but fufficiently ftrong to afcertain the fad. 
After fo very imperfeCt an account, I will not trouble you 
with any obfervations of my own upon this Angular fifh ; but 
beg you will confider this only as a direClion to others who 
may hereafter vifit that ifland, and from their fituation, and 
knowledge in natural hiftory, may be better able to defcribe 
the fiih, and give an account of its ekCtrical organs. 
I have the honour to be, with great efteem, &e. 
W. PATERSON, 
Lieutenant 98th regiment. 
