History of British animals - University of Guam Marine Laboratory

222 FISHES.But there are other movements executed by fishes of a more anomalouscharacter, the necessary conditions of which remain to be investigated- TheHerring, Pilchard and Haddock, for example, after frequenting certain parts ofthe coast for many years, at stated intervals, suddenly withdraw themselves toother stations, to which they had not been accustomed to resort. It is probablethat these shiftingsof fish may depend on the movements of thoseanimals on which they subsist, or on the changes in the quantity of food, occasionedby excessive consumption.The Fisheries of this kingdom are objects of vast importance, yet, thoughthey have frequently occupied the attention of Parliament, a great deal remainsto be done before they be placed in that state of improvement of whichthey are susceptible. In point of importance, our fisheries probably rank inthe following order : 1. Gadusidce, or fisheries having for their object thecapture of Cod, Coal-fish, Haddock, Ling, Hake, Tusk. 2. Salmonidce, includingSalmon, Trout, Char, and Smelts. 3. Clupeadce, including Herring,Pilchard, Shad. 4. Pleuronectidce, including Turbot, Holibut, Flounder, andSole. 5. Scomberoidw, or Mackerel. 6. Ilaiadce, including Rays and Skates.7- Cyprinida, including Carp, Bream, Tench, &c. 8. Anyuillada, includingthe Eel and Conger.To those interested in the improvement of these fisheries the following remarksmay not be deemed out of 1.place.The fisheries sustain much injuryin consequence of the capture of fish ready to spawn. No one can witnessthe exhibition of the large roes of the Cod, Ling, or Haddock, on thestalls of our fish-markets, without being convinced of the propriety of somelegislative enactment (capable of application) to prevent this prodigal wasteof our stores, by prohibiting the fishery of each species for a certain time,at the ordinary spawning season. 2. The fisheries are injured by the destructionwhich takes places in the fry, in consequence of the operations beingcarried on at improper seasons, or with improper engines. The injury doneto the salmon-fishery by the destruction of the fry has been frequently statedto the public, but few seem to be aware of the vast extent of injury to thefry of many kinds of fish from the use of improper nets, by the trawlers of theChannel Fisheries. On this subject the reader will find some important remarksin Mr Cornish's " View of the present state of the Salmon and ChannelFisheries," Lond. 1824. 3. The fisheries might be extended and renderedmore valuable by enlarging the system of bounties, or rather, perhaps, bydirecting them to new objects. The Turbot and Eel fisheries are neglectedin many places where they might be prosecuted to advantage; and hundredsof our fresh-water lakes, which at present are useless and waste, might be renderedproductive of much wholesome food. It becomes a question of greatnational importance, whether these, and other obvious improvements in ourfisheries, might be most effectually promoted, by public statutes, or by Boardsfurnished with suitable powers.The reader who wishes to consult accurate delineations of our native Fishes,should have recourse to the valuable plates of Donovan. Should minutedescription be the object of his search, the pages of Willoughby will notfail to gratify him.