$4 
4HE SEA X.A1UPKE?. 
cient Romans, tve do not hear fo many fanciful eiicomi-* 
Urns on particular diihes, nor fuch enormous films paid 
to procure them. Accordingly, the lamprey known a- 
mong us, has obtained no very extraordinary character. 
Ic is differently eilimated, according to the feafon it was 
taken, or the place where it was fed. The beft feafon 
for them is in the months of March, April and May ; for 
they are more firm immediately after their arrival in the 
rivers from the fait water, than afterwards. Towards 
the Summer, and in the hot weather, after they have de- 
pofited their fpawn, they are obferVed to be much wafted; 
and their filh becomes flabby, and bad eating *. Thotii 
caught in feveral of the rivers in Ireland, the people will 
not venture to touch f ; and throughout the whole of 
Scotland they are held in deteftation : while thofe taken 
by the EngliJlj in the Severn, are confidered by them as 
the moll delicate of all fiih whatever. Prejudices, though 
of oppofite kinds, feem to operate in each of thefe cafes, 
whether in producing difguft or predileftion. 
At a very early period, we find, the lamprey was rec- 
koned a great delicacy by the EngUjh : That they are ;i 
heavy forfeiting food, the experience of one of their 
mor.archs fatally teftified ; for the death of Henry I. was 
occafioned by eating too plentiful a meal of thefe fifties X . 
Notwithftanding this accident, they feem to have conti- 
nued in high efteem, becaufe We find Henry IV. granting 
protection to fuch Ihips as brought over lampreys for the 
table of bis royal confort ; and his fucceffor ilfuing out 
a warrant to William of Nantes, for fupplying him and 
his army with thefe fifties, wherever they might happen to 
march §. 
' In 
* Britifh Zoology. f Goldfmith’s Nat. Hill. 
1 Vide Hume s Hill. of England. § Rymer ix. 544. apud Pennant. 
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