I<a» 
ME EA¥. 
their parturition ceafes, they are exceedingly poor, and! 
then they improve gradually during the winter and 
fpring, till May, when they are at their higheft perfec- 
tion, and when they again begin to undergo the fame 
functions *. 
The rays generally frequent thofe parts of the fea 
where the bottom is black and muddy, where their vora- 
city leads them indiferiminaiely to devour every living' 
animal which they can furprife : But although their ap- 
petite is ravenous and indiferiminate, they become more 
delicate with regard to a baited hook ; they devour be- 
low any putrid fubliance whatever, but if the bait has 
been taken up and fuffered to lie for any time in the o- 
pen air, they will not touch it : they appear by their 
manner to perceive the line, and to dread it ; but the im- 
pulfe of their hunger is too great for their caution, and, 
even though they perceive the danger, if thoroughly 
hungry, they devour, as if regardlefs of deftru&ion f. 
Both Englijl} and Dutch carry on the fifhing to a con* 
fiderable extent ; the feafon at which they begin is early 
in the winter ; and the boats in which the filhermenput to 
fea, are of different fizes, according to the diflance of the 
place where they intend to fith. The veflels ufed in the 
Driti/h Channel, called cables, are of one ton burden, 
rowed with three pair of oars, and admirably conflru&ed 
for encountering a motfntain fea. When they go out t a 
filh, every perfon is provided with three lines; each man’s 
lines are fairly coiled upon a flat oblong piece of wicker* 
work, the kooks being baited, and placed very regularly 
in the centre of the coil. £ack line is furniilied with"' 
tvs* 
* Brit. Xcei. f Guldfmitli's Nat. Hift. 
V 
