History of Wonderful FishesChristopher Bentham, 1820 - 181 pages |
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Page 12
... . It usually mea- sures from fifty to a hundred feet in length , and some individuals have been taken of even consi- derably greater length than this . The head , 2 which constitutes nearly a third of the whole bulk 12 - Great Whale.
... . It usually mea- sures from fifty to a hundred feet in length , and some individuals have been taken of even consi- derably greater length than this . The head , 2 which constitutes nearly a third of the whole bulk 12 - Great Whale.
Page 25
... hundred and twenty fathoms long , fastened together ; these last are so strong as to lift a weight of five tons without breaking . When arrived at that part of the ocean which the Whales are known to frequent , the boats are kept in ...
... hundred and twenty fathoms long , fastened together ; these last are so strong as to lift a weight of five tons without breaking . When arrived at that part of the ocean which the Whales are known to frequent , the boats are kept in ...
Page 26
... hundred fathoms long , darts it into the Whale , and then rows as fast as possible away . As soon as the Whale is struck with the har- poon , he darts down into the deep , carrying off the instrument in his body ; and so extremely rapid ...
... hundred fathoms long , darts it into the Whale , and then rows as fast as possible away . As soon as the Whale is struck with the har- poon , he darts down into the deep , carrying off the instrument in his body ; and so extremely rapid ...
Page 29
... hundred and eighty six ships , and caught thirty two thousand nine hundred and seven Whales ; which , valued on an average at five hundred pounds each , give an amount for the whole value , of about sixteen millions sterling , gained ...
... hundred and eighty six ships , and caught thirty two thousand nine hundred and seven Whales ; which , valued on an average at five hundred pounds each , give an amount for the whole value , of about sixteen millions sterling , gained ...
Page 31
... hundred weight , to drive an iron pin of the same form and size into the wood , and to the same depth , in less than eight or nine strokes , whilst this had been effected by only one . And about sixteen years ago , a letter was written ...
... hundred weight , to drive an iron pin of the same form and size into the wood , and to the same depth , in less than eight or nine strokes , whilst this had been effected by only one . And about sixteen years ago , a letter was written ...
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Common terms and phrases
animal appear bait Barnacle Goose belly blubber boat body bottom Cachalot caught claws coast colour covered crab creature danger deep devour divers diving Dolphin Eels eggs eight Electrical Eel enemies fastened feet in length fins fish fishermen fishery five flesh frequently furnished Goose Barnacle Grampus Greenland grow harpoon head holes Holibut hooks hundred inches inhabitants kind lobster Mackerel manner miles motion mouth muscles nippers ocean oysters pearls pholas pieces Pike ponds porpoise pounds pounds weight prey pursue quadruped quantity RAZOR FISH resembles rivers rocks sail sailors Salmon salt sand scarcely season seems seen seize seldom Shark shell ship shoals shock shore side skin sometimes spawn species spermaceti stomach Sturgeon substance surface swallow swim Sword-fish tail taken teeth thick three or four thrown tide tribe Turbot twenty upper usually vessel weather Whale White Shark whole young
Popular passages
Page 91 - Gannets and others, which follow to prey on them : but when the main body approaches, its breadth and depth is such as to alter the very appearance of the ocean. It is divided into distinct columns of five or six miles in length and three or four in breadth, and they drive the water before them with a kind of rippling...
Page 179 - ... when it is perfectly formed, the shell gapeth open, and the first thing that appeareth is the foresaid lace or string : next come the legs of the bird hanging out, and, as it groweth greater, it openeth the shell by degrees, till at length it is all come forth, and hangeth onely by the bill : in short space after it commeth to full maturitie, and falleth into the sea, where it gathereth feathers, and groweth to a fowle bigger than a mallard, and lesser than a goose...
Page 111 - When after a fatiguing march, and escaping a thousand dangers, (for they are sometimes three months in getting to the shore,) they have arrived at their destined port, they prepare to cast their spawn.
Page 113 - ... for being covered with a skin resembling soft parchment, almost every part except the stomach may be eaten. They are taken in the holes, by feeling for them with an instrument ; they are sought after by night, when on their journey, by flambeaux. The instant the animal perceives itself attacked, it throws itself on its back, and with its claws pinches most terribly whatever it happens to fasten on. But the dexterous crab-catcher takes them by the hinder legs, in such a manner that the nippers...
Page 54 - America, every negro, to defend himself against these animals, carries with him into the water a sharp knife, which, if the fish offers to assault him, he endeavours to strike into its belly; on which it generally swims off. The officers who are in the vessels keep a watchful eye on these voracious creatures ; and, when they observe them approach, shake the ropes fastened to the negroes, to put them on their guard. Many, when the divers have been in danger, have thrown themselves into the water with...
Page 109 - May to begin their expedition, and then sally out by thousands from the stumps of hollow trees, from the clefts of rocks, and from the holes which they dig for themselves under the surface of the earth. At that time the...
Page 39 - Porpesse was once considered a sumptuous article of food, and is said to have been occasionally introduced at the tables of the old English nobility. It was eaten with a sauce composed of sugar, vinegar, and crumbs of bread.
Page 57 - I have seen," says Captain Portlock, " five or six large sharks swimming about the ship, when there have been upwards of a hundred Indians in the water, both men and women : they seemed quite indifferent about them, and the sharks never offered to make an attack on any of them, and yet at the same time would seize our bait greedily ; whence it is manifest that they derive their confidence of safety from their experience, that they are able to repel the attacks of those devouring monsters.
Page 127 - This fish feeds principally on flies and other small winged insects that hover about the waters it inhabits ; and the mode of taking its prey is very remarkable. When it sees a fly at a distance, on any of the plants in the shallow water, it approaches very slowly, and with the utmost caution, coming as much as possible perpendicularly under the object. Then, putting, its body in an oblique direction, with the mouth and eyes near the surface, it remains for a moment immoveable.
Page 117 - Fearful they strowl, and look with panting Wish For the cast Crust of some new-cover'd Fish; Or such as empty lie, and deck the Shore, « Whose first and rightful Owners are no more, They make glad Seizure of the vacant Room And count the borrow'd Shell their native Home; Screw their soft Limbs to fit the winding Case, And boldly herd with the Crustaceous Race.