the similitude among them, as to their nature, appetites, and conformation, is perfect and entire. They are all as voracious as they are plenty; and as dangerous to a stranger as useful to him who can distinguish their differences.

Of all the larger fish of the sea, these are the most numerous; and they owe their numbers to their size. Except the white shark and cachalot alone, there is no other fish that has a swallow large enough to take them in and their spines make them a still more dangerous morsel. Yet the size of some is such, that even the shark himself is unable to devour them: we have seen some of them in England weigh above two hundred pounds; but that is nothing to their enormous bulk in other parts of the world. Labat tells us of a prodigious ray that was speared by the Negroes, at Guadaloupe, which was thirteen feet eight inches broad, and above ten feet from the snout to the insertion of the tail. The tail itself was in proportion, for it was no less than fifteen feet long; twenty inches broad at its insertion, and tapering to a point. The body was two feet in depth; the skin as thick as leather, and marked with spots; which spots, in all of this kind, are only glands, that supply a mucus to lubricate and soften the skin. This enormous fish was utterly unfit to be eaten by Europeans: but the Negroes chose out some of the nicest bits, and carefully salted them up as a most favourite provision.

Yet, large as this may seem, it is very probable that we have seen only the smallest of the kind; as they generally keep at the bottom, the largest of the kind are seldom seen; and, as they may pro

bably have been growing for ages, the extent of

their magnitude is unknown. It is generally supposed, however, that they are the largest inhabitants of the deep; and, were we to credit the Norway Bishop, there are some above a mile over. But to suppose an animal of such magnitude is absurd; yet the over-stretching the supposition, does not destroy the probability that animals of this tribe grow to an enormous size.

The Ray generally chooses for its retreat such parts of the sea as have a black muddy bottom : the large ones keep at greater depths; but the smaller approach the shores, and feed upon whatever living animals they can surprize, or whatever putrid substances they meet with. As they are ravenous, they easily take the bait, yet will not touch it if it be taken up and kept a day or two out of water. Almost all fish appear much more delicate with regard to a baited hook than their ordinary food. They appear by their manner to perceive the line, and to dread it; but the impulse of their hunger is too great for their caution; and, even though they perceive the danger, if thoroughly hungry they devour the destruction.

These fish generate in March and April; at which time only they are seen swimming near the surface of the water, several of the males pursuing one female. They adhere so fast together in .coition, that the fishermen frequently draw up both together, though only one has been hooked. The females are prolific to an extreme degree; there having been no less than three hundred eggs taken out of the body of a single ray. These eggs are covered with a tough horny substance, which they acquire in the womb; for before they descend into

that, they are attached to the ovary pretty much in the same manner as in the body of a pullet. From this ovary, or egg-bag, as it is vulgarly called, the fish's eggs drop one by one into the womb, and there receive a shell by the concretion of the fluids of that organ. When come to the proper maturity, they are excluded, but never above one or two at a time, and often at intervals of three or four hours. These eggs, or purses, as the fishermen call them, are usually cast about the beginning of May, and they continue casting during the whole summer. In October, when their breeding ceases, they are exceedingly poor and thin; but in November they begin to improve, and grow gradually better till May, when they are in the highest perfection.

It is chiefly during the winter season that our fishermen take them; but the Dutch, who are indefatigable, begin their operations earlier, and fish' with better success than we. The method practised by the fishermen of Scarborough is thought to be the best among the English; and, as Mr. Pennant has given a very succinct account of it, I will take leave to present it to the reader.

"When they go out to fish, each person is pro"vided with three lines: each man's lines are fairly "coiled upon a flat oblong piece of wicker work; "the hooks being baited and placed very regularly "in the centre of the coil. Each line is furnished "with two hundred and eighty hooks, at the dis"tance of six feet two inches from each other. The "hooks are fastened to lines of twisted horse-hair, twenty-seven inches in length.

"When fishing, there are always three men in "each coble; and consequently nine of these lines

"are fastened together and used as one line, extending in length near three miles, and furnished " with above two thousand five hundred hooks. An "anchor and a buoy are fixed at the first end of the line, and one more at each end of each man's "lines in all, four anchors, and four buoys made "of leather or cork. The line is always laid across "the current. The tides of flood and ebb continue "an equal time upon our coast; and, when undis"turbed by winds, run each way about six hours. They are so rapid that the fishermen can only "shoot and haul their lines at the turn of the tide; " and therefore the lines always remain upon the "ground about six hours. The same rapidity of "tide prevents their using hand lines; and there"fore two of the people commonly wrap themselves "in the sail, and sleep, while the other keeps a "strict look-out, for fear of being run down by ships, and to observe the weather; for storms "often rise so suddenly, that it is sometimes with "extreme difficulty they escape to the shore, though they leave their lines behind them.

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"The coble is twenty feet six inches long, and "five feet extreme breadth. It is about one ton burthen, rowed with three pair of oars, and ad"mirably constructed for the purpose of encounter"ing a mountainous sea. They hoist sail when the "wind suits.

"The five-men-boat is forty feet long, fifteen "broad, and twenty-five tons burthen. It is so called, though navigated by six men and a boy; "because one of the men is hired to cook, and does "not share in the profits with the other five. All "our able fishermen go in these boats to the her

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ring-fishery at Yarmouth, the latter end of September, and return about the middle of November. "The boats are then laid up until the beginning "of Lent, at which time they go off in them to "the edge of the Dogger, and other places, to fish "for turbot,, cod, ling, skates, &c. They always "take two cobles on board, and when they come "upon their ground, anchor the boat, throw out "the cobles, and fish in the same manner as those "do who go from the shore in a coble; with this "difference only, that here each man is provided "with double the quantity of lines, and, instead of waiting the return of the tide in the coble, return "to the boat and bait their other lines; thus " hauling one set, and shooting another, every turn " of tide. They commonly run into the harbour "twice a week, to deliver their fish. The five-men"boat is decked at each end, but open in the middle, " and has two long sails.

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"The best bait for all kinds of fish, is fresh her"ring cut in pieces of a proper size; and, notwithstanding what has been said to the contrary, they " are taken there at any time in the winter, and all "the spring, whenever the fishermen put down "their nets for that purpose: the five-men-boats "always take some nets for that end. Next to

herrings are the lesser lampreys, which come all "winter by land-carriage from Tadcaster. The "next baits in esteem are small haddocks cut in pieces, sand worms, muscles, and limpets: and

lastly, when none of these can be found, they use "bullock's liver. The hooks used there are much "smaller than those employed at Iceland and "Newfoundland. Experience has shown that the