courage them to go to sea,-send their produce to market, and make them proper returns,—we must not hope to see fishing flourish in the Orkneys, which, from their situation, might be both valuable for the fish, and for an inexhaustible nursery for hardy and experienced seamen.

Species 4-The Pollack.

Assellus Huitingo-Pollachius, Wil Icth. 167. Whiting Pollack, Raii Syn. Pisc. 53. Gadus Pollachius, Lin, Sys. 429. Orc. Lyth or Ly-Fish.

THESE are not found so common as the others, yet are frequently caught close in with the shore, almost among the sea-ware, and in deep holes amongst the rocks. They seem to be a very frolicksome fish, as is observed by the natural historians*. I have been several times fishing them, when they would keep a constant plashing on the water. They bite keenly, scarce allowing the hook to be in the water, before one or other jumps at it.

They are better for eating than the coal-fish; but do not know whether they are ever dried or preserved otherwise, as the quantity caught is scarce worth curing.

The general appearance of this fish is like the former, only the back, as it comes out of the water, is a most beautiful green, but it soon loses that colour; the side line is much crook

* Vide Pen. Brit. Zool. 154.

ed in this, bending towards the back, whereas it is pretty straight in the former. The sides are yellow; the belly white.

Species 5.-The Whiting.

Assellus mollis major, seu albus, Wil. Icth. 170. Whiting, Raii Syn. Pisc. 55. Gadus Merlangus, Lin. Sys. 438. Sib. Scot. 23. Brit. Zool. 155.

I CANNOT deny this fish a place here, because I have seen it once or twice caught in these seas, but, for ought I can be informed, it is very infrequent. I suppose it can scarce bear the rough gusts of our winter seas, being a very delicate fish *. Mr Pennant tells it is found on the Dogger-Bank, which would make one imagine it would sometimes visit our shores. Mr Wallace takes notice of the whiting in his short catalogue of Orkney fishes, but does not say whether got in his time in quantities or not.

*When haddocks are caught in any quantity with us, whitings are got in num

bers.

**With only two Dorsal Fins.

Species 6.-The Ling.

Ling, Wil. Icth. 175. Raii Syn. Pisc. 56. Gadus Molva, Lin. Sys. 439. Brit. Zool. 160. Sib. Scot. 23.

THIS, next to the coal and cod fish, is the most frequently found of any fish on the Orkney coasts; but, like the cod-fish, the fishery is neglected. I have seen some inconclusive trials made of the fishing of these, when a number of good sizeable fish were got; but this dropped away to nothing. Ling-livers are valuable for the oil, and are sometimes eaten, though not always without danger, say our country people, which is most apparent when the liver is discoloured, or the fish out of season. Ling-fish are caught upon what our people call great lines, or a line with several hundred hooks, placed at certain distances through the whole length of it, and these are baited and allowed to remain in the water all night, when the people in the morning examine what is caught, bait them again, and immediately reset them, though in the former part the dog-fish and other sharks are sometimes before-hand with them. Ling from the hook here are sold at about sixpence or eightpence apiece, but, when dry, at about fourteen shillings sterling per dozen.

Species 7.-The Whistle-Fish.

Gadus Mustela, Lin. Sys. 430. Brit. Zool. 165. Brit. Zool. Illus. tab. 33. Orc. Red-ware Fishik.

THIS species is commonly found under the stones among the sea-ware, seldom exceeding nine or ten inches in length. The body is round to the vent, then becomes compressed; blackish brown on the back; a dusky yellow, inclining to white, on the belly; the mouth has five beards, four of which are placed above, and one below the chin; the first back-fin is very weak, and placed in a pretty deep furrow, which begins at the back of the head; the first ray of the fin is cirrhated; the second back-fin begins where the last ended, and runs almost to the tail; the anal fin begins there, and in like manner reaches near the tail; the tail is round and reddish ; the scales small; and the whole body covered with a great deal of slimy humour.

These small fish are reckoned pretty good eating, but are never got in any quantity; never caught at a hook; the only method of getting them is by shifting the stones at low water, when they are to be found with the blennies.

With one Fin on the Back.

Species 8.-The Torsk-Fish.

Orc. Tusk or Cat-Fish.

THIS fish is found on the banks off the Burgh of Birsay in small quantities, but is very frequent on the coasts of Shetland, where it makes a very considerable article in their fish trade. I am told the price has risen much within these few years, insomuch that fish which could formerly be bought for two shillings or two shillings and sixpence per dozen, now sell for a crown*, owing, I suppose, to the extensive demand for it. It is one of the best cured fishes, swells much in boiling, and parts into very thick flakes; ate fresh is very firm, rather tough, which makes most people prefer it dry.

The description of this fish, which seems not to be that of the natural historians, is as follows: The head small in proportion to the fish, with a single beard under the chin; the upper-jaw very little longer than the lower; in the jaws there are great numbers of small teeth, and in the roof of the mouth a rough or toothed bone, much of the shape of a horse-shoe; a pretty broad furrow runs from the setting on of the head, to where the back-fin begins, which runs the whole length of the back, within about an inch of the tail; the tail is rounded; anal

* Torsk now sells for thirteen shillings and sixpence a quintal, in Shetland.