60 
Gleaning?, first series.) 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 
have 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 alter 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 ot 
extermination to which they are thus exposed, is counterba- 
lanced by the transparency of their texture, which enables 
them to escape detection; and by passing into more shallow 
water, where willi the enjoyment ot 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 
might 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 feeling?, 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 
they may be destructive or otherwise. 
