THE SHEKFSHKAI). 
201 
him — how brilliantly they show, and make you think of the 
dying dolphin, and of old Arion ! and when he reposes at the 
head of the table — fit place for him — beautiful, though boiled, 
how heartfelt is the homage he receives from all around ! 
Truly, it is libel on him, to call by the same name this Faria 
of the lakes. 
41 And yet our fish is vigorous, and not altogether destitute 
of beauty, to the eye at least of those who know him not. Is 
it not chronicled, that at Black-Rock, a strange augler once 
bartered away two noble basse for two large sheepsheads, 
which, for the nonce, were called white basse ? * The 
freckled toad, ugly and venomous, wears yet a precious 
jewel in his head ’ — and our fish, in his clumsy cranium 
weurs two small loose bones, serrate, and white and polished, 
which must have some use to him, some wondrous adapta- 
tion to his mode of life, which, when unfolded, will prove 
that he is not unregarded by Him who made the great whales 
and the fishes of the sea. 
“His mouth is paved with large, flat, rough bones, or 
teeth, like those of the sea fishes that root up and devour the 
hardest testacea? : aud, I have little doubt l#it that the natu- 
ralist who watches him narrowly, will one of these days de- 
tect him crushing and consuming the Uni and Anac^ontas — 
the fresh clams of our muddy flats aud sandy bars. 
“ He bites at the worm, the minnow, the chub, the lob- 
ster, and makes good play with the line, though ho gives in 
more quickly than the basse. An experienced angler can 
generally distinguish his bite and his resistance — hut the 
most knowing ones are sometimes taken in, uud think him 
basse until he is fairly brought to view. 
“When you have caught him, let any one who will accept 
him, have him ; and take to thyself no merit for the gift. Hia 
meat is more like leather than fish or flesh. It is a common 
•wying, that the more you cook him the tojgher he becomes} 
