. The illustrated natural history [microform]. Reptiles; Fishes; Mollusks; Natural history; Reptiles; Poissons; Mollusques; Sciences naturelles. 318 THE SrilAT. Ill:- 'r '1. Few fish have so muiiy foes as tlie iremii,cj, its raarvellonsly gregarious habits ron- {lering it an easy prey to tinned and featliered i'oos; and its slioals are so perseverin^'lv preyed upon by tlie birds of the air and the fishes of tlie sea, that even tlie liavoc annually maileby man falls probably sliort of tliat caused by tlie ceaseless attacks of tlie myriad enemies that surround tuem. Several of the cetaceans are
. The illustrated natural history [microform]. Reptiles; Fishes; Mollusks; Natural history; Reptiles; Poissons; Mollusques; Sciences naturelles. 318 THE SrilAT. Ill:- 'r '1. Few fish have so muiiy foes as tlie iremii,cj, its raarvellonsly gregarious habits ron- {lering it an easy prey to tinned and featliered i'oos; and its slioals are so perseverin^'lv preyed upon by tlie birds of the air and the fishes of tlie sea, that even tlie liavoc annually maileby man falls probably sliort of tliat caused by tlie ceaseless attacks of tlie myriad enemies that surround tuem. Several of the cetaceans are in the habit of following the Herrings to the shore, and gorging themselves during the whole of their stay. Various riembers of tlie shark tribe rove ceaselessly among the shoals, and by their peculiar habit of snapping the fish asunder before swallowing it, cause a large quantity of oil to escape, and to produce a peculiar effect upon the surface. The chimmra and many other of the large-sized fish take the opportunity of enjoying a boundless feast, and prowl around the^hoals like roaming banditti. The sea-birds above are quite as voracious as the fish below, and as actively engaged in the pursuit of their prey ; so that when man, birds, and fishes have had their share, it seems quite wonderful that the whole Herring race is not exterminated. In the Norwegian fisheries, the boatmen do not like to shoot their nets unless they are sure that a shoal of Herrings is passing. During the daytime, therefore, they watch for their prey with an instrument called a water-glass, Avhich is nothing more than a trumpet-shaped tube of wood, with a simple plate of glass let into the broad end. This is pushed under water, and when the eye of the observer is applied to the upper extremity, enables him to see to a considerable depth, the vision not being disturbed by the shifting lines of the surface. At night the men lower a line, to which a weight is attached, and as soon as they feel the line ja
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, booksubj, booksubjectfishes, booksubjectmollusks
