[ io8 1 
aftonifliing property. All the five we have here are pof- 
fefied of this power in a very great degree, and com- 
municate the fliock to one perfon, or to any number of 
perfons, either by the immediate touch of the fifii with 
the hand, or by the mediation of any metalline rod. The 
keeper fays, that when they were firfi; caught, they could 
give a much ftronger fhockby a metalline conductor than 
they can do at prefent. The perfon who is to receive 
the fliock muft take the fifli with both hands, at fome 
confiderable diftance afunder, fo as to form the communi- 
cation, otherwife he will not receive it ; at leafl; I never faw 
any one fliocked from taking hold of it with one hand 
only: though fome have aflured me, that they were 
fliocked by laying one hand on him. I myfelf have 
taken hold of the largefl: with one hand often, without 
ever receiving a fhock ; but I never touched it with both 
hands, at a little diftance afunder, without feeling a fmart 
fliock. I have often remarked, that when it is taken 
hold of with one hand, and the other hand is put into 
the water over its body, without touching it, the perfon 
received a fmart fliock j and I have obferyed the fame 
efFe6t follow, when a number joined hands, and the 
perfon at one extremity of the circle took hold of, or 
touched the fifh, and the perfon at the other extremity 
put his hand into the water, over the body of the fifh. 
The fliock was communicated through the whole circle, 
as fmartly as if both the extreme perfons had touched 
the fifh. In this it feems to differ widely from the tor^ 
pedo^ or elfe we are much mifinformed of the manner 
in 
