Note 100 — {23} Thirdly, Of Fishes.[62]
Reading edition
Our author’s account of the fishes of New England may take this of old Wood (N. E. Prospect, l. c.) for a tail-piece. “The chief fish for trade,” says he, “is a cod; but, for the use of the country, there is all manner of fish, as followeth:—
“The king of waters,—the sea-shouldering Whale; The snuffing Grampus, with the oily seal; The storm-presaging Porpus, Herring-hog; Line-shearing Shark, the Cat-fish, and Sea-dog; The scale-fenced Sturgeon; wry-mouthed Hollibut; The flouncing Salmon, Codfish, Greedigut; Cole, Haddick, Hake, the Thornback, and the Scate, (Whose slimy outside makes him seld’ in date;) The stately Bass, old Neptune’s fleeting post, That tides it out and in from sea to coast; Consorting Herrings, and the bony Shad; Big-bellied Alewives; Mackrels richly clad With rainbow-colour, the Frost-fish and the Smelt, As good as ever Lady Gustus felt; The spotted Lamprons; Eels; the Lamperies, That seek fresh-water brooks with Argus-eyes: These watery villagers, with thousands more, Do pass and repass near the verdant shore.”