THE TUNNY. 
336 
fixed upon for that purpofe, rear fome promontory*, 
where a man was placed to give notice of the tAations of 
the filh, and warn the fiihermen below. It is from one of 
thefe precipices, that the lover in Theocritus threatens to 
leap, with a view of foftenuig the rigour of his miftrefs’s 
cruelty f. The manner of taking the tunny in nets, as 
it is at prefent praftifed, is perhaps fimilar to that of the 
ancients; many of the filhing ilations are exa&ly the 
fame. The trade is Hill carried on to a great extent : 
when taken, the fifties are cut into pieces and falted up in 
barrels, in which {late they are exported to all the neigh- 
bouring countries. The abdomen is reckoned by far the 
moll delicate part of the filh : it is cut feparately, and 
fold to the nobility and wealthy citizens of Rome, under 
the name of taremtello J . 
The tunny frequents the Engiijh coafls, but not in the 
fame numerous fhoals that are feen in the Mediterra- 
nean 5. It is alfo pretty common in the lochs on the 
weftern coafts of Scotland , where it comes in purfuit of 
herring, and often during night flrikes into the nets, to 
the great damage of their owners. In the morning, when 
the nets are drawn by the fi(hers, the tunny watches neat 
them, for any fifh that may chance to drop out. The 
fiihermen avail themfelves of this avidity for prey in the 
tunny, and baiting a hook with a herring, theyfeldotn 
fail to take him. 
The fleih of the tunny, when recently taken and cut 
up, has the appearance of raw beef ; but after boiling, 
turns pale and taftes like falmon. They are about eigh c 
feet 
* Thefe were termed ©avvosxstrSa. f Vide Idyllia. 
| Vide Salvian. ajaid Will. § Britilh Zool. 
