[ 28, ] 
plan *, that the increafe in Tome fifh is furprizing, 
and to thofe that are not ufed to difquifitions of this 
kind muft appear incredible j he however links the 
number of eggs in thefe two fpecies extremely, when 
he tells us the roe of a cod-fifh mull contain about a 
million of eggs, and that a carp does not fpawn lefs 
than 20,000, to which he adds, and perhaps a. 
tench half as many. This is making the cod almoft 
ten times lefs prolific than the other account, and the 
carp above feventeen times lefs. Some other writers, 
who appear alfo to have been defirous to imprefs the 
mind with the wonders of natural hiftory, have made 
their eftimate {till lower. One of them, I remem- 
ber in particular, in one of our monthly publications, 
from whence numbers muff take their ideas, who 
have no opportunity of reading more authentic ac- 
counts elfewhere, tells us, that carp and perch have 
nine or ten thoufand eggs, and that cod-fifh, and 
heriing, are not lefs prolific ; and this he calls wonder- 
ful. The increafe of cod-fifh is indeed, even accord* 
ing to this, very great, but almoft a thoufand times 
leis than Lewenhoek is faid tohave found it. 
Their accounts being fo very different, I 
thought I fhould n-ot improperly employ lome 
lei fu re hours, if I inquired into this matter afrefh, 
and law what the fecundity of thefe. fpecies of fifh 
really was, as well as of luch other forts as - might fall 
in my way ; and efpecially as I had found that a finall 
pickerel, vvhofe fpawn I had taken a pretty exadt 
account of, from mere curiolity, fome time before, 
contained no fewer than 25,800 eggs: a fifh which. 
* Propofed by. 3Vfr, Addifon in one of the Spectators. 
Vol. LVII. O 0 nonee 
